What happened
On 9 November 2002, a Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee, registration G-BNZV, was involved in an accident at Currock Hill, Chopwell, near Newcastle. The pilot was conducting a private flight intended to build familiarity with the aircraft's handling prior to beginning training for glider towing operations. Meteorological conditions at the time were reported as good, with calm winds.
After approximately 15 minutes of flight, the pilot attempted to land on the wet grass of Runway 2ally. Although the approach was initially satisfactory, the aircraft floated during the landing phase and touched down much further down the runway than intended. Despite the application of brakes, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently within the 600-metre landing distance available. In an attempt to avoid an overrun, the pilot initiated a go-around; however, the aircraft exited the runway and struck gorse bushes, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position. The pilot escaped the wreckage without injury.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's performance and the pilot's configuration during the critical moments of the landing and subsequent go-around. It was noted that the pilot had very limited experience on this specific type, with only 16 minutes of flight time in the aircraft. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's configuration during the aborted landing, noting that the flaps were fully extended and the carburettor heat was set to the hot position during the go-around attempt. Calculations performed after the event indicated that the required landing distance was just under 500 metres.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the insufficient remaining runway length following a long touchdown caused by floating.
- Contributing factors included the lack of pilot experience on the specific aircraft type.
- The wet surface of the grass runway reduced braking effectiveness.
- The calm wind conditions contributed to the aircraft's tendency to float during the approach.
- The decision to execute a go-around was complicated by the aircraft being configured with full flaps and carburettor heat set to hot.