What happened
On 19 March 2000, a Piper PA-24, registration G-ARUO, was conducting a private flight from White Waltham to Enstone Airport in Oxfordshire. The purpose of the flight was to visit a maintenance company for a scheduled CAA inspection and flight test. The aircraft was intended to land on an unlicensed grass strip owned by the maintenance company, which was positioned at a 20-degree offset from the main paved Runway 26.
Upon arrival, the pilot performed an initial approach and go-around before attempting a landing on the grass strip. The aircraft touched down at an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the strip's centerline. During the landing roll, the aircraft bounced several times before settling. The pilot attempted to turn the aircraft to align with the direction of the paved runway, but was unable to achieve sufficient heading change. Consequently, the aircraft continued traveling in a straight line until the left wing impacted a wooden post and wire fence separating the grass strip from the paved runway. The impact caused the aircraft to slew through the fence, eventually coming to rest on the tarmac of Runway 26. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft suffered substantial damage to its wings and fuselage.
The investigation
The investigation, based on the pilot's accident report and general inquiries, examined the layout of the airfield and the sequence of the landing roll. Investigators noted that the approach to the grass strip was constrained by trees and a nearby control tower. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's familiarity with the airfield, noting he had previously visited the site with a more experienced pilot and had received a telephone briefing prior to the flight.
Findings
- The pilot's inability to steer the aircraft sufficiently during the landing roll led to the collision with the fence.
- The landing involved multiple bounces, which may have affected the controllability of the aircraft during the rollout.
- The physical layout of the grass strip, being offset from the main runway and separated by a fence, contributed to the difficulty of the maneuver.
- Following the incident, the grass strip at Enstone has been realigned to run parallel to Runway 26, featuring a displaced threshold to ensure clearance from the control tower.