What happened
On 2 March 2013, a Piper PA-28R-200, registration N9325N, was conducting a private flight as part of a multi-leg journey originating from a base near Cambridge. The flight was traveling from Biggin Hill to Sibson Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire under favorable weather conditions, characterized by fine visibility and calm or very light winds.
During the approach to runway 15 at Sibson, the pilot executed a heavy landing. This impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The pilot reported that there had been no prior warnings or unusual indications regarding the status of the landing gear during the flight. The investigation focused on the impact of the landing on the aircraft's structural integrity and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the final approach.