Introduction
On 24 July 2002, a Piper PA-28-181, registration G-BOXY, was involved in an incident during a training flight at Netherthorpe Airfield, Nottinghamshire. The aircraft, manufactured in 1978 and powered by a Lycoming O-360-A4M piston engine, was being flown by a student pilot with 44 hours total flying experience, 42 of which were on type. The pilot was the sole occupant.
Flight Details
The pilot was completing his fifth and final circuit on Runway 24. Weather conditions were good with a surface wind from 270° at 10 knots, and the pilot reported slight turbulence during the approach. Due to the turbulence, the approach speed was 10 knots faster than normal. Landing flap was lowered and the aircraft was trimmed.
Accident Sequence
After touchdown, the aircraft veered sharply to the left through approximately 45 degrees and 'ballooned' slightly. The pilot applied full power and the aircraft became airborne in a steep nose-high attitude before stalling and impacting standing corn to the south of the runway. The aircraft struck the surface tail first, followed by the left wing tip, and then the nose, eventually coming to rest in an erect attitude. The pilot was uninjured and vacated the aircraft through the normal exit on the right side. The Airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Service attended immediately.
Pilot's Account
The student pilot concluded that the aircraft was affected by a slight gust of wind from the right during the attempted landing. He attributed the accident to a slight lack of speed reaction and disorientation on his part. He stated that a slight delay in pushing forward on the control column, to counter the nose-up pitching moment created by the increase in power, had caused the aircraft to stall.
Instructor's Observation
The pilot's instructor stated that the student's previous circuits were all observed and judged to be safe. He suspected that the student had inadvertently applied some left brake at touchdown, which caused the aircraft to veer to the left.