What happened
On 18 January 2000, a Piper PA-28-161, registration G-BSBA, was involved in a ground accident at Dunkeswell Aerodrome in Devon. The aircraft, operated for a private flight, was being taxied by the pilot with three passengers on board. The pilot intended to backtrack along Runway 05. Before entering the runway, the pilot communicated his intentions via radio and performed a visual check for circuit traffic, noting no other aircraft in the vicinity.
As the aircraft proceeded towards the western end of the runway, the pilot increased the taxi speed to an estimated 25 to 30 mph after hearing another aircraft call its position on final approach. During this maneuver, the pilot encountered extremely poor forward visibility caused by the glare of the setting sun. Using the runway edge as a guide, the pilot eventually spotted the perimeter fence at the far end of the runway. Despite applying the brakes, the aircraft was unable to stop in time and collided with the fence, resulting in dented leading edges on both wings and minor damage to the propeller. There were no injuries to the crew or passengers.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the environmental conditions at the time of the incident and the pilot's actions during the taxiing phase. Investigators examined the visibility conditions, specifically the impact of the sun's position on the pilot's ability to maintain situational awareness and track the runway centerline.