Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident involved a Piper PA-32R-300 Lance, registered N83VK, powered by a single Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D piston engine. The aircraft was manufactured in 1977 and operated on a private flight. The pilot, holding a Private Pilot’s Licence with 75 hours total flying experience (14 hours on type), had flown 3 hours in the last 90 days and none in the last 28 days.
Accident Sequence
On 28 October 2016 at 1017 UTC, the pilot conducted a normal approach to Runway 21L at Stapleford Aerodrome in Essex. The runway is predominantly grass, 1,077 m long, with a 600 m long asphalt insert of less than half the runway width located at the northeast end. The wind was from 260° at 9 kt, and the runway condition was dry.
Touchdown on the asphalt surface was normal. During the landing roll, the aircraft began to drift slowly to the left side of the asphalt. The pilot did not attempt to correct this drift, reasoning that the aircraft was slowing normally and would leave the paved surface at low speed. As the aircraft crossed onto the grass, the nose landing gear fractured and the propeller struck the ground.
Damage and Aftermath
The accident resulted in damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, and possible shock-loading to the engine. The pilot was uninjured and exited the aircraft normally.