What happened
On 15 August 2008, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country navigation exercise involving Caernarton Airport, Gwynedd. During the final approach to Runway 26, the pilot was aware of a crosswind component from the left. As the aircraft entered the flare, it began drifting toward the right, prompting the pilot to initiate a go-around.
During the second approach, the aircraft encountered gusty conditions. While on the landing roll, a significant gust of wind caused the aircraft to yaw toward the left. The pilot attempted to correct this using right rudder, but was unable to maintain the necessary physical pressure. This resulted in an increasing oscillation of the aircraft's heading, eventually leading to an abrupt 90-degree left yaw. As the Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-BYCA, left the paved surface, the nosewheel struck a shallow drainage ditch and collapsed. The resulting impact caused the propeller to strike the ground, leading to engine shock-loading. The aircraft came to a stop approximately 10 to 15 metres from the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the flight circumstances and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators noted that the airport had recently changed the active runway from 20 to 26, which presented a surface wind of 230 degrees at 13 knots. Met Office data indicated that surface winds were actually between 190 and 200 degrees at 15 knots, gusting up to 25 knots, creating a crosswind component of roughly 17 knots.
Findings
- The pilot was operating within the aircraft's demonstrated crosswind limits, but lacked the physical strength to maintain sufficient rudder input during a strong gust.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, cowling, and nosewheel, rendering the airframe beyond economic repair.