What happened
On 10 October 2005, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-AWET, was conducting a private flight at Cromer (Northrepps) Airfield in Norfolk. The pilot had arrived at the airfield after performing approximately ten landings earlier that day. While established on the downwind leg of the left-hand circuit for Runway 36, the pilot noted a light tailwind.
During the final approach, the pilot realized the aircraft was going to land too far down the runway. In an attempt to avoid an overrun, the pilot retracted the flaps and applied full power to execute a touch-and-go maneuver. After touching down, the aircraft became airborne again but subsequently lost altitude. The pilot reported hearing a loud bang, after which the aircraft struck a low bank just past the threshold of Runway 18. The aircraft continued across a field for approximately 125 meters before striking another bank, which sheared off the landing gear. The aircraft finally came to a stop about 50 meters into a second field. The impact resulted in serious injuries for two passengers and minor injuries for the pilot. The aircraft sustained extensive damage to the engine, propeller, wings, fuselage, and tail.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's performance capabilities and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The airfield, which is unlicensed, features a single grass runway measuring 493 meters in length. At the time of the incident, the surface was damp, and the wind was estimated at 135º/5 kt, creating a 3.5 kt tailwind for the approach to Runway 36.
Calculations based on the aircraft's flight manual indicated that the landing distance required (LDR) for the approach to Runway 36 was 27 meters greater than the runway length, even when assuming a dry surface. The investigators noted that if the pilot had approached Runway 18, the ground speed would have been significantly lower, and the required landing distance would have been within the available runway length, provided the surface was not excessively wet.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to attempt a touch-and-go after a late realization of an impending overrun contributed to the accident.
- The aircraft's landing distance exceeded the available runway length due to the tailwind component and the aircraft's weight.
- The dampness of the grass surface likely increased the required landing distance beyond the calculated figures for dry grass.