What happened
On 31 August 2006, a Piper PA-28RT-201T Cherokee Arrow IV, registration N2CL, was performing a private flight at Frensham Airstrip in Churt, Surrey. The aircraft had recently completed a flight from France, and the pilot was returning to his home base.
During the approach to Runway 25, the aircraft encountered weather conditions characterized by good visibility and a surface wind of 220 degrees at 12 knots, with gusts reaching 24 knots. As the pilot transitioned into the flare for touchdown, a stall warning became audible. During this phase of the landing, the aircraft drifted toward the right side of the runway. The right wingtip made contact with a maize crop situated at the edge of the airstrip. This impact caused the aircraft to swing approximately 90 degrees to the right, eventually coming to a halt in the crop after the left main landing gear collapsed. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board, though the aircraft suffered extensive damage to the left wing and left main landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The inquiry examined the flight path, the environmental conditions at the time of the incident, and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the landing flare. The investigation also considered the pilot's recent flying history and the impact of wind gusts on the aircraft's stability during the final moments of the flight.