What happened
On 10 July 1998, a Piper PA-22-160, registration G-ARDV, was performing a private flight when it encountered difficulties during landing at a private airstrip near Ballymena, Northern Ireland. The conditions at the time of the incident involved zero wind and a wet, short grass runway measuring 650 metres in length.
The pilot touched down approximately 100 metres into the landing strip. Following the touchdown, the aircraft continued to roll for an additional 200 metres before the pilot began applying light braking. As the pressure on the brakes was increased, the wheels lost traction and began to skid across the surface. The aircraft subsequently ran into soft ground at the far end of the field, causing the aircraft to tip onto its nose at a low speed. The incident resulted in damage to the propeller and the nosewheel, though no injuries were reported.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot to reconstruct the sequence of events. The examination focused on the landing technique and the surface conditions of the airstrip. The investigation established that the pilot had landed further down the runway than originally intended, which necessitated a delayed braking application. The investigation also noted the pilot's relatively limited experience on this specific aircraft type, with only 19 hours of flight time recorded on the Piper PA-22-160.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the late application of brakes following a touchdown point further down the runway than intended.
- The wet, grass surface contributed to the wheels skidding once braking pressure was increased.
- The aircraft encountered soft ground at the end of the strip, leading to the nose-over.