Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28RT-2201 Arrow IV, registration G-BOUS, manufactured in 1979. It was powered by a single Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 piston engine. The flight was private, with the 39-year-old pilot holding a Private Pilot's Licence and 114 hours total flying experience (2 hours on type). The pilot and two passengers were on board, all wearing lap and diagonal harnesses. The aircraft's empty weight was 1,808 lbs, and it had departed from Hawarden with full fuel tanks (72 US gallons usable).
Accident Sequence
On 25 November 1999 at 1400 UTC, the aircraft was attempting to take off from Runway 06 at Cark Airfield, Cumbria, for a flight to Hawarden. The pilot reported the surface wind as 260° at 20 kt, with clear and sunny weather. After becoming airborne, the pilot retracted the landing gear and 'used the emergency button to retract the wheels faster.' The aircraft did not climb significantly, and the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed, causing the landing gear to lower automatically.
The aircraft then struck a power cable, resulting in a significant yaw to the left before the cable broke. The pilot attempted to raise the landing gear again, but the left main gear remained down. The aircraft touched down in a field, went through a hedge, and came to rest against a railway embankment and a tree. There was no fire; all occupants evacuated through the normal door.
Meteorological Information
An aftercast from the Meteorological Office indicated a warm front from Donegal Bay to Drogheda and Cardigan Bay. Moderate southwesterly airstream covered the area with outbreaks of slight rain. Visibility was about 15 km, mean sea level pressure 1019 mb. Scattered cloud base 1,800 ft, broken cloud base 3,500 ft. Temperature +10°C, dew point +8°C. Surface wind was from 180° at 13 kt, and wind at 500 ft was from 210° at 25 kt.
Weight and Performance Considerations
The pilot reported a combined weight of himself and passengers of 43 stones (602 lbs). Based on the aircraft's empty weight and fuel load, it was likely operating close to the maximum allowable take-off weight of 2,750 lbs. The Flight Manual take-off performance data for a no-flap takeoff from a paved, level, dry runway with zero wind indicated a take-off distance to 50 ft of 2,200 ft (670 m) and ground roll of about 1,760 ft (536 m). Runway 06 has a usable length of 400 m with 200 m overruns and a rough asphalt surface. With a 5 kt tailwind component, the distance increased to 2,500 ft (762 m) and ground roll 2,000 ft (609 m). Using 25° flap reduced the still-air distance to 1,600 ft (488 m) and with a 5 kt tailwind to 1,850 ft (564 m). The pilot considered that the aircraft may have suffered a loss of power.