Background
The aircraft, a Piper PA-28-161 registered G-OANC, was manufactured in 1977 and powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D3G piston engine. The private flight departed from Humberside with the sole pilot, a 50-year-old male holding a Private Pilot's Licence with an IMC Rating. He had accumulated 224 flying hours, of which 93 were on type, with only 4 hours in the previous 90 days and none in the last 28 days.
Accident Details
On 12 April 1999 at 1015 UTC, the pilot obtained permission to land at Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, home of the Shuttleworth Collection. The only available runway was grass Runway 04, with a length of 613 metres, as Runway 30/12 was restricted to home-based Shuttleworth pilots. The weather was fine, with surface wind from 310° at 10 knots, no significant cloud, and visibility of 40 km.
The pilot performed a left-hand visual circuit at 800 feet and touched down with approximately 513 metres of runway remaining. After touchdown, he raised the flaps and applied maximum braking. By the time he realized the deceleration was inadequate, a go-around was not feasible. He steered the aircraft to the right of the runway toward an area of longer grass. The aircraft overran this area, struck a fence, crossed a ditch, and came to rest on the opposite embankment. The pilot, wearing a lap-diagonal seat belt, vacated the aircraft without injury.
Aftermath
The aircraft sustained damage beyond economic repair. The pilot reported that he had failed to appreciate the length of runway required when landing without the benefit of a headwind.