What happened
On 6 July 2011, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior II, registration G-EDGA, was conducting a private transit flight from Coventry Airport to RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire. During the approach to Runway 20, the pilot prepared for a flapless landing on the grass runway. As the aircraft neared trees on the final approach, a sudden and powerful downward and leftward force struck the aircraft.
Upon leveling the wings, the pilot observed via the windsock that the wind direction had shifted nearly 90 degrees. The pilot attempted to turn into the wind but instead landed across the runway, coming to a halt in the long grass adjacent to the strip. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained damage to the left wing outer leading edge, as well as the navigation and anti-collision lights.
The investigation
The investigation examined the meteorological conditions and the pilot's actions during the landing phase. At the time of the incident, the weather at RAF Halton was characterized by bumpy, gusty conditions, with thunderstorms active in the vicinity. While the forecast had predicted a surface wind of 180 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots, the actual conditions experienced during the approach involved a significant and abrupt change in wind direction.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a sudden and violent change in wind direction, which may have been triggered by the proximity of a thunderstorm to the north of the airfield.
- The aircraft's left wing made contact with trees during the final approach due to the unexpected aerodynamic forces.