What happened
On 11 June 2005, a Piper PA-28-140, registration G-BTVR, was engaged in a solo training flight at Full Sutton Airfield in Yorkshire. The student pilot was performing a solo consolidation exercise, intending to land on Runway 04. At the time of the incident, the wind was recorded at 060 degrees with a speed of 8 knots.
During the final approach, the airspeed of the aircraft decreased significantly, resulting in a heavy touchdown and several subsequent bounces on the runway. In an effort to regain control and avoid an obstacle, the pilot increased throttle power to climb away from a nearby treeline. However, during this recovery attempt, the pilot inadvertently applied pressure to the left rudder pedal, inducing a rapid leftward turn. The aircraft subsequently collided with a tree, rolled onto its back, and came to a stop in a field of crops. The pilot escaped the wreckage with minor injuries, and no fire occurred.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing and the subsequent loss of control. The examination established that the aircraft's flight path was compromised by a loss of airspeed during the approach, followed by an improper control input during the subsequent go-around attempt.