What happened
On 3 April 2003, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-AZWE, was conducting a private flight from Dunkeswell Airfield to Wing Farm. Before descending toward the destination, the pilot reviewed meteorological reports from nearby Yeovilton, which indicated good visibility, minimal cloud cover, and winds of 11 knots with gusts up to 17 knots. Conditions at the destination airstrip were reported to be similar.
The landing was performed on runway 09, a 500-metre grass strip that was firm, dry, and well-maintained. The pilot executed the approach using two stages of flaps. While the initial touchdown was considered satisfactory, the aircraft's ground speed was noted to be relatively high. Following touchdown, the aircraft drifted to the right of the runway centerline.
In an attempt to correct the path, the pilot applied differential braking; however, the aircraft continued its deviation and entered soft ground located to the right of the defined landing area. The nose wheel became lodged in a furrow of ploughed earth, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and resulting in the propeller striking the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. The assessment focused on the aircraft's behavior following touchdown and the effectiveness of the pilot's control inputs.