What happened
On 2 January 2012, a Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow, registration G-AWBA, was performing a private flight approaching Stapleford Airfield in Essex. The flight, which had been uneventful up to that point, was on final approach to runway 22L. At the time, the weather was clear with good visibility and scattered clouds, while a west-south-westerly wind of approximately 13 knots was recorded.
As the aircraft progressed along the final approach with three stages of flaps extended and the landing gear down, the pilot experienced sudden buffeting. The aircraft subsequently lost significant altitude, striking bushes and trees located west of the approach path. The impact occurred approximately 20 metres before the start of the runway, though the actual threshold was displaced by 176 metres from the point of impact. The aircraft came to an abrupt stop in a nose-down attitude, resulting in the starboard wing detaching and damage to the landing gear.
There were two persons on board, the pilot and a passenger. The pilot sustained serious injuries, including a broken arm, while the passenger suffered minor injuries consisting of cuts and bruises. Both occupants managed to exit the aircraft, though the pilot had to manually lower the flap lever to clear the cabin door.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators noted that the aircraft appeared to be on a stable, normal approach at 87 mph prior to the loss of altitude. The investigation also considered the impact of local terrain and structures on the airflow near the runway threshold.
Findings
- The aircraft struck vegetation and bushes short of the runway threshold.
- The pilot experienced sudden buffeting prior to the loss of altitude.
- The presence of windshear, potentially caused by the interaction of local airflow with nearby airfield buildings and trees, was a significant factor in the aircraft's descent.