What happened
On 4 October 1999, a Piper PA-28-151, registration G-BOSP, was performing a private flight from Shoreham to Clacton. The flight was operated by two pilots who had been flying together for 15 months. During the approach to Clacton Airfield, the aircraft encountered gusty conditions.
Upon touchdown on Runway 36, the aircraft landed heavily on both wheels at the extreme left edge of the runway. This impact caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air. While the engine power was observed to increase significantly, suggesting an attempt at a go-around, the aircraft failed to regain sufficient flying speed. The aircraft veered left of the runway heading, eventually striking a fence and several trees on a bank surrounding a pond. The impact with a substantial tree caused the aircraft to yaw violently and resulted in the destruction of the airframe. Both crew members sustained injuries, with one person suffering serious injuries and the other minor injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the touchdown area of the runway. Evidence from the grass surface showed wheel marks consistent with a heavy landing near the left edge of the runway. The tracks indicated that the aircraft became airborne again for a short period before the wheels made contact with the ground once more, continuing on a path that led into the trees.
An inspection of the Piper PA-28-151 revealed that the structural damage was consistent with the collision with the trees. The investigation found no evidence of pre-impact failure of the flight controls or the flap mechanism, which was found in the retracted position. The engine was found to be capable of developing power, and the propeller showed evidence of striking branches while the engine was producing considerable power. The investigation also noted that the left brake line had been disrupted by structural distortion during the crash.