What happened
On 23 July 2001, a Piper PA-28-181, registration G-BPAY, was engaged in a local private flight from Leicester Airport. During pre-flight procedures, the pilot attempted a radio check with Leicester Radio but received no response. Although the pilot noted that the ground station was not always manned, subsequent attempts to contact other stations while airborne were also unsuccessful. This led the pilot to suspect a malfunction in the aircraft's radio transmitter.
While performing the landing circuit, the pilot could hear other aircraft communicating but could not visually identify them. Consequently, the pilot continued the circuit using 'blind' radio calls. The resulting approach was characterized by excessive speed and height. The aircraft touched down midway along the 490-metre runway. Upon realizing the remaining distance was insufficient to stop, the pilot initially attempted a go-around before deciding to apply heavy braking. The aircraft overran the end of Runway 22 and entered a ploughed field, resulting in damage to the propeller and nose landing gear. Both occupants, the pilot and one passenger, escaped without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the pilot's decision-making process regarding the suspected radio failure and the flight's approach characteristics. The inquiry also looked into the pilot's recent flying experience and the impact of his recent flight history on his operational judgment during the approach and landing phase.