Event
On 1 May 1999 at 1630 UTC, a Piper PA-28-160 (registration G-BSER) sustained damage during a solo landing at Full Sutton Airfield, York. The student pilot was conducting his third solo landing, his second of the day, when the aircraft touched down just short of Runway 04 in soft ground. The nose gear leg was damaged, and as the aircraft reached the runway surface, it tracked left and departed the side into cultivated ground. The propeller and engine mounting were also damaged.
Aircraft and Pilot
The aircraft, a Piper PA-28-160 manufactured in 1963, was powered by a single De Havilland O-320-D2A piston engine. The student pilot, aged 54, had a total of 12 hours flying experience, with no time on type and no flying in the previous 90 days. There were no passengers on board, and the pilot was uninjured.
Conditions and Cause
The wind was light from the north-east with good visibility. The pilot assessed the cause as a misjudgement of the approach leading to an undershoot of the runway.