Aircraft Information
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-AYEE, manufactured in 1970. It was powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A4A piston engine.
History of the Flight
A private pilot, holding a Commercial Pilot's Licence, was undergoing training for a night rating. The instructor briefed the pilot early in the evening before flying with a different student for an hour. After a short break, the instructor took off at 1820 hrs with the trainee for a night circuit exercise. Runway 19 was in use.
The trainee flew five normal circuits with discussions of various emergency scenarios, then two flapless circuits, all without incident. The instructor expressed confidence in the trainee's abilities.
The trainee then commenced another circuit intending to perform a flapless approach. An aircraft ahead caused the trainee to extend the downwind leg before turning onto base leg and starting the approach. When the aircraft was approximately 400 metres from the threshold, the instructor noticed power cables ahead. The aircraft struck the cables in the area of the nosewheel. The instructor immediately took control, declared a mayday to ATC, and initiated a go-around.
After performing a handling check overhead the airfield, the instructor flew a circuit and low go-around to allow the Aerodrome Fire and Rescue Service to visually inspect the aircraft using spotlights. No damage was visible, and the instructor rejoined the circuit. He briefed the trainee for an emergency landing before conducting a final approach. The aircraft touched down normally, and the instructor taxied it clear of the runway before shutting down.
Damage
A subsequent inspection revealed impact damage to the nosewheel oleo, engine mount, and right wing leading edge. Additional damage to the fuselage resulted from electrical arcing. Three electrical power cables were also damaged.
Runway and Environment
Runway 19 had threshold and runway lighting but no approach lighting. It was equipped with Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) set for a 3.1° approach angle, with a threshold crossing height of 50 ft. A set of power lines approximately 50 ft high ran perpendicular to the approach path about 0.5 nm from the runway threshold.
Flight Crew
The commander (instructor) was 31 years old with 2,100 total flying hours, of which 1,640 were on type. His last 90 days included 195 hours, and last 28 days, 53 hours. The trainee was a private pilot familiar with the airfield.