Accident Overview
On 3 May 2015 at approximately 15:19 UTC, a Piper PA28-180 (manufacturer: Piper Aircraft Inc., type: PA28-180, serial number: 28-5156, year of manufacture: 1968, total operating hours: about 5627 hours with 4395 landings) conducted a precautionary landing in a field near Hagsdorf, in the district of Melk, Lower Austria. The aircraft was owned by a flying club and registered in Germany.
Flight History
The pilot, a male holder of a valid PPL(A) license with SEP land rating and a valid medical certificate, and one passenger departed from Meidl-Airport in Fertöszentmiklos, Hungary, intending to land at Kirchdorf am Inn airfield in Bavaria, Germany. During the flight, cloud cover increased, prompting the pilot to decide on a precautionary landing in an agricultural field near Hagsdorf. The pilot had approximately 265 hours of total flight experience (452 starts), with about 42 minutes and 6 starts in the preceding 90 days on the accident aircraft type.
Accident Sequence
During the landing on the field, the aircraft touched down in a slightly nose-high attitude. The nose landing gear collapsed to the left relative to the direction of flight. Subsequently, the right wing tip's leading edge made contact with the ground, and the propeller also struck the ground. The aircraft came to rest in the field.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. Specific damage included the collapse of the nose gear, ground contact damage to the right wing tip, and propeller strike. No other property damage was reported.
Weather Conditions
Meteorological reports from nearby stations at Amstetten (17.5 km away) and St. Pölten (40 km away) around the time of the accident indicated overcast skies with low cloud bases, light rain and drizzle, and reduced visibility. Winds were light and variable, predominantly from easterly to northerly directions at 2–5 knots.
Weight and Balance
According to the investigation, the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within the permissible limits throughout the flight.
Pilot and Documentation
The pilot's license and medical certificate were valid on the day of the accident. The aircraft's onboard documents, issued by the German Federal Aviation Office, were also valid. The required pre-flight preparation was completed, and a flight plan was filed.
Investigation
The accident was investigated by the Austrian Safety Investigation Board (Sicherheitsuntersuchungsstelle des Bundes, Bereich Zivilluftfahrt). No safety recommendations were included in the report.