Accident
On 23 June 2020 at 1655 UTC, a Piper PA-32-300, registration G-DIWY, experienced a collapse of the nose landing gear upon landing at North Coates Airfield in Lincolnshire. The aircraft veered left off the runway and came to rest in a dyke. The pilot and three passengers all sustained minor injuries.
Flight History
The flight originated from Full Sutton Airfield, Yorkshire, and was uneventful until landing. The pilot joined the downwind leg for Runway 23, which had a mown grass surface 750 m by 18 m. On final approach, the surface wind was reported as 140° at 12 kt. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at 89 mph IAS and made a normal touchdown on the centreline. Immediately after touchdown, the aircraft jerked to the left. Despite right rudder inputs, the veer continued. The pilot applied wheel brakes but released them slightly as the aircraft appeared to skid. The aircraft departed the left side of the runway at about 55 mph into long grass. Approximately six feet into the grass, a large dyke, not visible to the pilot due to the grass height, caught the left wing, causing the aircraft to yaw sharply left. The nose then impacted the dyke wall, and the aircraft yawed another ninety degrees, coming to a stop facing back toward the runway threshold. The pilot shut off fuel and electrical systems, and all occupants exited through the doors. Fuel leaking from the wings prompted them to move to the far side of the runway. The pilot called emergency services, who attended.
Aircraft Damage
A runway inspection indicated that all three wheels touched down simultaneously on the centreline. The landing was not heavy, but the nose landing gear had collapsed, causing the aircraft to veer left and preventing the pilot from steering back to the centreline. The aircraft sustained major damage to the nose landing gear, engine, and airframe.
Pilot Comments
The pilot noted that none of the airfield charts he used mentioned the presence of the dyke. He stated that had he known about it, combined with the increased crosswind, he might have handled the landing differently.