What happened
On October 14, 2022, a Piper PA-28-140, registration SE-GAZ, was performing solo training maneuvers at Idre Airport in Dalarna, Sweden. The pilot, who was in the final stages of training for a private pilot license, was practicing a series of landings followed by immediate takeoffs on runway 15. During the rotation phase of one of these takeoffs, the aircraft experienced a sharp, unexpected yaw to the left. This maneuver caused the aircraft to depart the paved runway surface and enter a nearby wooded area. The impact with trees resulted in significant aircraft damage, specifically a severed nose wheel and a broken right wing. The pilot escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) examined the wreckage, analyzed tire marks on the runway and the adjacent track, and reviewed video footage of previous landings from the same day. Investigators also interviewed the pilot and the airport manager. The technical examination of the Piper PA-28-140 revealed no mechanical failures or structural deficiencies that could have contributed to the excursion. The investigation also focused on the pilot's recent activities and the supervision protocols in place during the flight. It was noted that the flight instructor was not physically present at the airfield, having briefed the pilot digitally prior to the solo flight.
Findings
While the exact cause remains unconfirmed, investigators identified a potential case of negative transfer. The pilot had worked as an excavator operator and had operated a crawler excavator earlier that same day. Because the control pedals in a crawler excavator function in the opposite direction to those in an aircraft, investigators theorize that the pilot may have instinctively applied the wrong pedal when reacting to the natural leftward yaw tendency caused by propeller effect.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot's limited flight experience and increasing stress levels during the excursion likely hindered effective corrective actions. The analysis of track marks indicated the aircraft skidded on its nose and right wheels, tilting significantly to the right before the final impact. The investigation also highlighted that the instructor's absence meant that improper flight tendencies observed in earlier landings that day could not be corrected through real-time feedback.