What happened
On 10 April 1999, a Piper PA-23-250, registration G-BBEW, was conducting a private flight from White Waltham to a landing site at Roughay Farm, Hampshire. After departing at 11:30 hrs, the pilot performed a dummy approach to verify the landing area using GPS coordinates. During the subsequent downwind leg, visibility decreased due to drizzle, causing the pilot to lose sight of the intended strip for approximately five minutes.
Upon the weather improving, the pilot attempted a landing. To avoid power lines, a steeper approach was executed. The aircraft touched down on an uphill section of the strip. As the aircraft crested a rise, the pilot discovered a fence crossing the runway only 100 metres ahead, rather than the expected 400 metres of clear runway. In an attempt to clear the obstacle, the pilot applied power; however, the nosewheel struck two fence posts spaced roughly 6 feet apart. Following this impact, the pilot observed telephone cables ahead on the slope. In an attempt to lift the aircraft, the pilot raised the nose, which resulted in a stall and the port wing striking the ground. The aircraft slewed 270 degrees anti-clockwise before coming to rest. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the pilot had actually misidentified the landing site, mistaking the Phoenix Farm strip for Roughay Farm, which is located approximately half a mile to the west. The investigation established that the pilot was unaware of the existence of the adjacent strip and had not observed the fences or wires during the initial dummy approach.