What happened
On 7 June 2004, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BUIJ, was conducting a private flight to the Payden Street Strip near Ashford, Kent. Prior to the flight, the pilot had secured permission to use the private landing site, though the owner had warned of the strip's narrowness and the presence of adjacent oil seed rape crops.
Following a flight from Blackbushel Airport, the pilot approached the strip, which was oriented at approximately 200°(M). Despite some difficulty locating the site, the pilot established a right base position. The approach was noted as being slightly high, but the pilot proceeded given the available 1,000m landing distance. The aircraft touched down roughly 200m into the strip. While the initial roll was normal, the surface was uneven. Approximately 400m into the landing roll, the aircraft suddenly veered sharply to the left. The pilot was unable to recover control, causing the aircraft to enter the crops sideways. The aircraft eventually stopped with its nose in the vegetation and its tail remaining on the strip.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and found damage to the nose gear, the right main landing gear, and both wings. Specifically, the right tyre had been stripped from its rim, and the nose oleo strut showed damage consistent with a sideways sliding motion. The left wing tip showed marks indicating initial contact with the crops, while the right wing experienced significant skin distortion.
At the time of the incident, the oil seed rape crops flanking the 12m wide strip were between 4 and 5 feet tall. Given that the wingspan of the Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II is 10.67m, the aircraft's wings were wider than the clear portion of the strip. The pilot noted that while he had previously landed in wheat without issue, he had not realized that the oil seed rape would be as robust or hazardous to the aircraft's wingtips.
Findings
- The aircraft drifted left during the landing roll, causing the left wing tip to strike the crops.
- The robust nature of the oil seed rape crops contributed to the sudden and violent leftward swing of the aircraft.
- The pilot had not fully appreciated the specific hazard presented by the height and density of this particular crop type.