Accident Overview
The aircraft, a Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow (registration G-AWBA), was involved in an accident on 2 January 2012 at approximately 1420 UTC while attempting to land at Stapleford Airfield, Essex. The flight, a private general handling flight, had been uneventful prior to the approach.
Flight History
The pilot, aged 66, held a Private Pilot's Licence with a total of 202 flying hours, of which 50 were on the accident aircraft type. His flying experience in the previous 90 days was 2 hours, and in the last 28 days, 1 hour. The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming IO-360-B1E piston engine and was manufactured in 1968 (serial no: 28R-30528).
On board were the pilot and a passenger, who was also a qualified private pilot. The aircraft was approaching Runway 22L, with a west-south-westerly surface wind of about 13 kt. Weather conditions were fine, with good visibility and scattered clouds.
The aircraft joined the circuit and established on what appeared to be a normal, stabilised approach at 87 mph IAS, with the landing gear and three stages of flap extended.
Sequence of Events
During the final approach, the aircraft became very low and struck bushes some distance short of the runway threshold. The pilot recalled the wind starting to buffet the aircraft and his next recollection was being at very low height with bushes immediately ahead. The aircraft struck the bushes and stopped abruptly in a nose-down attitude approximately 20 m before the start of the runway (the actual threshold was displaced by 177 m).
The pilot believed that windshear may have been a factor in the accident. He opined that the aircraft had been affected by windshear, possibly resulting from the local airflow over and around the airfield buildings and nearby trees located west of the final approach path. The presence of such windshear was reportedly confirmed by a doctor on board an air ambulance who was also a qualified private pilot.
Injuries and Emergency Response
The pilot sustained a broken arm (serious injury), while the passenger sustained cuts and bruises (minor injury). After the aircraft came to rest, the passenger kicked open the cabin door, which was obstructed by bushes. Both occupants vacated the aircraft; the pilot needed to lower the flap lever, which impeded his exit in the raised position. They alerted Stapleford radio room by mobile telephone. The airfield fire and rescue vehicle arrived a few minutes later, and an air ambulance that was flying in the vicinity also attended. Both men were taken to hospital.
Aircraft Damage
The starboard wing was detached, and the landing gear was damaged.