What happened
On 28 November 2006, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-AYEE, was engaged in a night training flight at Oxford Airport. The flight was being conducted by an instructor and a trainee pilot working toward a night rating. The session involved several circuits, including practice flapless approaches.
During the final approach of the evening, the trainee was acting as the handling pilot. Due to an aircraft ahead in the circuit, the trainee extended the downwind leg before turning onto base. This resulted in the aircraft being positioned further from the runway threshold than intended. As the aircraft approached the runway, it descended below the correct glidepath and struck electrical power lines situated approximately 0.5 nm from the threshold.
Upon noticing the cables, the instructor immediately took control, initiated a go-around, and declared a "mayday" to Air Traffic Control. Following a handling check and a low go-around to allow emergency services to inspect the aircraft, the instructor completed a successful landing. The aircraft sustained damage to the nosewheel oleo, engine mount, right wing leading edge, and fuselage due to electrical arcing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight path and the cockpit environment. It was noted that while the PAPI lights were active for this approach, the increased pitch attitude required for a flapless approach may have obscured the pilots' view of the threshold and runway lights. The investigation also looked into the flight's progression, noting that the crew had been flying continuous circuits for nearly an hour prior to the incident.
Findings
- The trainee did not adequately compensate for the extended circuit when performing the final approach.
- The aircraft was significantly below the required approach path at the time of the strike.
- The instructor's monitoring of the aircraft's altitude may have been less diligent due to the continuous nature of the preceding training circuits.
- The use of a flapless approach configuration likely altered the apparent runway aspect and masked the view of the threshold lights.