What happened
On 16 January 2003, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BRBE, was conducting a private local flight at Shoreham Airport. Before rejoining the traffic circuit, the pilot obtained the latest ATIS information, which indicated Runway 21 was in use with a light wind and good visibility.
However, due to a road traffic accident on the nearby A2/27, police had established a 300-metre exclusion zone near the airfield because of the presence of oxy-acetylene equipment. This necessitated a change in airfield operations, with air traffic control restricting departures to Runway 21 and landings to Runway 03. The pilot was cleared to land on Runway 03, which had a reduced landing distance of 871 metres due to a displaced threshold.
During the final approach, the pilot was informed of a wind change to 240/10 kt. Upon touchdown, the aircraft made contact with the runway more than halfway down its length. After the nose wheel touched the surface, the aircraft veered left, exiting the paved surface and entering the grass. During the excursion, the aircraft struck two wooden runway marker boards, causing extensive damage to the left side of the airframe. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition and the environmental factors present during the landing. Post-incident inspections confirmed that both braking systems were fully functional and operating normally. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent flying history, noting that while the pilot had completed a type conversion to the PA-28 in December 2002, this was his first flight in the aircraft since that training.
Findings
- The pilot performed the landing in a tailwind component, which contributed to a higher ground speed and a touchdown point further down the runway than intended.
- The runway surface was damp, further affecting the landing performance.
- The pilot noted that while the approach felt satisfactory, he was aware of the wind pushing the aircraft along.
- The aircraft's excursion was exacerbated by the high ground speed and the late touchdown point on the shortened available runway.