Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28R-180, registration G-WWAL, manufactured in 1968 and powered by a Lycoming IO-360-B1E piston engine. The flight was conducted as a private training operation with two crew and one passenger on board. The commander, aged 37, held a Commercial Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 2,020 total flying hours, of which 1,700 were on type. In the preceding 90 days, he had flown 50 hours, including 20 hours in the last 28 days.
Accident Narrative
On 17 April 1999 at 1830 UTC, following the completion of a training flight, the aircraft taxied to its normal parking spot at White Waltham Airfield. As it entered the parking area, a noise was heard from the left wheel. The pilot promptly brought the aircraft to a halt and stopped the engine. A visual inspection under the left wing revealed that the left main landing gear wheel had impacted a metal tie-down stake. The stake, which had been driven into the ground, left approximately 4 inches protruding above the surface. Its dark color, lack of markings, and partial concealment by grass rendered it invisible to the pilot during taxi.
Damage Assessment
An engineering examination showed that the tyre remained inflated and the landing gear strut sustained no damage. However, the port wing main spar was twisted, and a loss of rivets was noted on the upper surface of the wing. No injuries were reported among the occupants.