What happened
On 11 October 1998, a Piper PA-22-150, registration G-ATXA, was conducting a local pleasure flight from a farm strip in Hertfordshire. The flight was intended to maintain the pilot's flying currency. While the pre-flight meteorological forecast suggested light winds, the windsock at the airfield indicated a stronger wind of approximately 15 knots, leading the pilot to select Runway 3ally 33 for departure and arrival.
During the return to the strip, the pilot established the aircraft on final approach at approximately one mile from the runway, utilizing 40° of flap. Although some turbulence was encountered below 800 feet, the approach speed was maintained at 80 knots. As the aircraft descended below 400 feet, the pilot moved the carburettor heat control to the cold position. At this stage, the pilot identified that the aircraft was undershooting the runway threshold.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied full power; however, the aircraft was unable to climb due to the high flap setting. The aircraft subsequently landed in a field of newly sown crops roughly 60 feet short of the runway. As the aircraft transitioned onto the runway surface, it struck a small earth bank located at the boundary between the field and the runway, which caused the landing gear to collapse. There were no injuries to the pilot, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage to its propeller and landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight conditions, the pilot's decision-making regarding the approach, and the configuration of the aircraft during the attempted go-around. The investigation established that the pilot's experience on this specific type was 37 hours, with only 1 hour of flight time recorded in the 28 days prior to the event.