What happened
On 4 September 1999, a Piper PA-28-180, registration G-AVOZ, was conducting a private flight near Cromer, Norfolk. During the approach to the 800-metre grass runway 36, the pilot performed a standard approach under calm wind conditions and clear visibility. After clearing several tall trees near the runway threshold, the aircraft touched down. The pilot believed there was adequate runway length remaining for the stop; however, the braking performance on the lush grass surface proved insufficient. Consequently, the aircraft overran the end of the runway and struck a sturdy wire fence. The incident resulted in minor injuries to the pilot, while the passenger remained unhurt. The impact caused substantial damage to the engine mounts, exhaust, nose landing gear, and propeller.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions and the aircraft's performance on the specific runway surface. The pilot noted that the effectiveness of the brakes was lower than anticipated due to the condition of the grass. In a retrospective assessment, the pilot indicated that a short field landing technique might have been more appropriate for the circumstances than the standard procedure used during the flight.