Accident Details
On 19 March 2001 at 1021 hours UTC, a Piper PA-28-161 (registration G-BFMG) was involved in an accident at Firoaks Airport, Surrey. The aircraft, manufactured in 1977 and powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D3G piston engine, was being flown by a 41-year-old student pilot with a total of 17 hours flying experience (all on type). The flight was a solo training sortie.
Sequence of Events
Earlier that morning, the student pilot had completed a consolidation session of circuits with a flight instructor. Afterward, he was authorized to perform two or three solo circuits. According to the student's report, his first landing was normal but landed to the left of the runway centreline. He applied right rudder to correct the alignment, then opened the throttle and applied left rudder to maintain the centreline for a touch-and-go. The aircraft began to weave from side to side along the runway. The student closed the throttle and abandoned the attempted takeoff; however, he was unable to control the aircraft's direction, and it departed the runway on the left side. After traveling a short distance over grass, the nose landing gear sank into soft ground, causing the aircraft to tip forward.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the propeller and the outer part of the port wing, as well as the wing spar near the fuselage attachment. The student pilot was uninjured.
Investigation
The investigation was conducted by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) based on a report submitted by the flight instructor. No probable cause was stated in the source material.