What happened
On 7 August 2003, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-AVLD, was completing a private flight from Chichester (Goodwood) Airfield to Clacton Airfield in Essex. Prior to joining the landing circuit, the pilot requested a briefing from Clacton Radio. The controller instructed the pilot to use Runway 18 and specifically advised that the aircraft must land before a public footpath that intersects the grass runway.
During the approach, the pilot maintained a steep descent profile. The aircraft touched down near the location of the footpath and subsequently bounced several times on the grass surface. During the final impact, the nose landing gear detached from the aircraft. The engine suffered a shock load and the propeller was damaged. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight circumstances, the airfield layout, and the pilot's actions. It was noted that the weather conditions were favorable, with 20 km visibility and a light southerly wind. However, the pilot observed that the surface wind was experiencing variations of approximately 200 degrees, a phenomenon typical for that time of day at the airfield. The investigation reviewed the pilot's approach technique and the decision-making process regarding the touchdown point relative to the runway obstruction.