What happened
On 15 May 2018, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, registration G-RVRR, was conducting a training flight at Compton Abbas Airfield in Wiltshire. The flight was a familiarisation and currency check for a pilot-under-check, supervised by a flight instructor. The aircraft, operating near its maximum takeoff weight, arrived at the airfield following a navigation exercise from Exeter.
During the flight, the pilot-under-check performed an initial approach to the grass Runway 08. Due to a long touchdown point, the pilot applied full power to execute a go-around. On a subsequent attempt, the pilot landed near the start of the runway, intending to perform a touch-and-go. After touchdown, the pilot selected one stage of flap for a short-field takeoff and applied full power. While the aircraft accelerated and rotated as expected, it failed to gain sufficient altitude and subsequently struck a hedge located approximately 400 m past the runway end. Both occupants were able to exit the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the flight sequence and the conditions at the airfield. Witnesses on the ground observed the initial touch-and-go, noting the aircraft touched down very late on the runway. Another flight instructor, positioned near airfield hangars, observed the aircraft at an altitude of approximately 50 ft during the second approach. The investigation also considered the aircraft's weight and the environmental factors present at the time of the accident.