Incident Summary
On 23 July 2001, at 1135 hours UTC, a Piper PA-28-181, registration G-BPAY, experienced a runway excursion at Leicester Airport following a private flight. The aircraft touched down long on Runway 22 and subsequently ran off the end into a ploughed field, coming to a stop. The nose landing gear and propeller were damaged. The pilot and the sole passenger were uninjured.
Flight Details
The pilot, who held a Private Pilot's Licence with 140 total flying hours, planned a one-hour local flight from Leicester. Before departure, he attempted a radio check with Leicester Radio but received no response. He was aware that the Air Ground station was not continuously manned and was not initially concerned. Once airborne, the pilot could hear transmissions from other aircraft and ground stations and attempted radio checks with other stations, but without success. He then became concerned about the serviceability of his radio and decided to return to land for a check.
During the circuit, the pilot could hear other aircraft joining but did not have visual contact with them. He continued the circuit, making 'blind' radio calls at appropriate positions. The approach was high and fast, and the aircraft touched down halfway along the 490-metre runway. Realising that he could not stop safely, the pilot began to initiate a go-around but then changed his mind and applied heavy braking. The aircraft departed the end of Runway 22 and entered a ploughed field, where it quickly came to a halt.
Pilot's Report
In his report, the pilot stated that he became highly preoccupied with the apparent transmitter failure and the difficulties locating other aircraft in the circuit. He acknowledged that he should have executed a go-around from the approach but allowed his concerns to override his decision-making. He also noted that a high ratio of dual to solo flights had adversely affected his airborne decision-making and made him over-reliant on someone else confirming his decisions.