What happened
On 24 July 2002, a Piper PA-28-181, registration G-BOXY, was performing a training circuit at Netherthorpe Airfield. During the fifth and final approach on Runway 24, the aircraft was traveling approximately 10 knots faster than usual due to slight turbulence.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft veered sharply to the left by about 45 degrees and experienced a slight ballooning effect. In an attempt to correct the situation, the pilot applied full power. This caused the aircraft to lift into a steep, nose-high attitude, which subsequently led to a stall. The aircraft impacted standing corn located south of the runway, striking the ground tail-first, followed by the left wing tip and the nose, before coming to rest upright. The pilot, a student, sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. The examiner noted that the pilot had 44 total flying hours, with 42 of those hours on this specific type. The instructor, who had observed the previous circuits, reported that the earlier maneuvers had been safe.
During the inquiry, the pilot suggested that a gust of wind from the right had influenced the landing and that a lack of speed reaction and momentary disorientation contributed to the event. The instructor also noted the possibility that the pilot had unintentionally applied the left brake during the landing roll, which would explain the sharp leftward veer.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to apply forward pressure on the control column to counteract the nose-up pitching moment caused by the sudden application of full power.
- The aircraft's sudden leftward deviation may have been caused by the inadvertent application of the left brake.
- Turbulence during the approach resulted in an approach speed higher than normal.