What happened
On 10 April 2009, a Piper PA-28-181, registration N2405Y, departed Panshanger for a flight to Jersey with one passenger on board. The flight was conducted under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), but the weather forecast for the route was poor, indicating two approaching fronts.
After taking off at 10:37 hrs, the pilot contacted Farnborough Radar to request a basic service. Throughout the flight, the aircraft maintained an altitude between 800 and 1,200 ft amsl. At approximately 11:22 hrs, the aircraft began a slow descent. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered low cloud covering a ridge of high ground north of Petersfield.
At 11:23 hrs, the aircraft struck trees just below the ridge line near Shoulder of Mutton Hill. The impact caused the wings to separate from the fuselage, and the aircraft subsequently struck the ground. The accident resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the wreckage, recovered GPS data, and reviewed air traffic control records. Analysis of the aircraft's engine and controls indicated that the engine was producing significant power at the time of impact and that the aircraft was in a climbing attitude.
Data from the onboard GPS showed that the aircraft's altitude was generally consistent with the pilot's efforts to stay clear of cloud while maintaining terrain clearance. Witnesses at the site observed the aircraft flying through fog and noted that the engine sounded normal before the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent training and the weather forecasts provided by the Met Office.