What happened
On 27 August 2012, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-BURT, was conducting a private flight from Denham to Enstone Aerodrome in Oxfordshire. Upon arrival, the pilot was notified that Runway 08 was in use. Although the pilot had been advised of a wind direction of 180° at 12 kt, the actual surface wind was recorded as 170° at 15 kt, with gusts reaching 25 kt.
The pilot performed the final approach using a combination of left rudder and right aileron to maintain the centerline, with two stages of flaps extended. While the approach was initially stable, the aircraft landed slightly left of the runway centerline. As the nosewheel made contact with the runway surface and the rudder was straightened, the aircraft suddenly veered to the left. The pilot was unable to correct the deviation before the aircraft crossed the width of the paved area and struck a 6 ft fence post located at the northern edge of the runway. The impact with the wire and posts caused significant damage to the wings, fuel tanks, nose cowling, and propeller, ultimately forcing the engine to stop. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight history, weather conditions, and the physical circumstances of the landing. Investigators noted that the aircraft's landing occurred on the southern half of the original paved runway, which is approximately half the width of the original strip. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience and the specific wind conditions present at the time of the accident.