Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-ATPN, manufactured in 1966 and powered by a single Lycoming O-320-E2A piston engine. The flight was a private training sortie, the pilot's first solo navigation exercise. The sole occupant was a 41-year-old student pilot with a total of 75 flying hours, including 24 hours on type; his recent experience comprised 7 hours in the last 90 days and 2 hours in the last 28 days.
Sequence of Events
Runway 24 was in use at Southend Airport, Essex, with a surface wind of 210 degrees at 8 knots. Earlier, the pilot had completed two check circuits to the satisfaction of his instructor. During the early stage of the take-off run, the aircraft swung to the left. The pilot continued the take-off despite not being aligned with the runway direction. The aircraft subsequently struck a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) located to the left of the runway. The pilot then closed the throttle and brought the aircraft to a stop.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot's report, before starting the take-off roll he looked over his left shoulder to ensure the circuit was clear. He was then dazzled by particularly bright sunshine. No other contributory factors were cited by the pilot.
Damage and Injuries
The accident resulted in damage to the propeller, shock loading of the engine, and collision damage to the PAPI. There were no injuries to the pilot.
Investigation
The information was derived from an Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot. The AAIB categorised the occurrence under reference EW/G98/01/01 and included it in Bulletin No. 2/98, Category 1.3.