What happened
On 1 March 2003, a Piper PA-32-260 Cherokee Six, registration G-RAYE, was completing a private flight from Humberside Airport to Panshanger Airfield in Hertfordshire. During the arrival, the pilot consulted the Luton ATIS, which reported winds from 170° varying between 130° and 270° at 11 knots.
Upon joining the right base for Runway 29, the pilot observed another aircraft taxiing on the runway and requested it vacate the strip. The runway, which was a grass surface, was wet at the time of the landing. As the pilot transitioned to final approach, the presence of trees near the approach path led to concerns regarding potential windshear.
Due to a combination of anticipated windshear and a possible tailwind, the aircraft floated along the runway, touching down approximately halfway down the available 788-metre distance with a high groundspeed. Despite the application of brakes, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently. In an attempt to steer the aircraft away from the runway end, the pilot attempted to slew the plane, but the aircraft exited the runway and slid into a ditch and a raised hedge at a heading roughly 60° right of the landing direction. The impact caused substantial damage to the landing gear, propeller, and port wing, though the pilot escaped without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on an accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions, specifically the state of the grass runway and the wind conditions. The inquiry also considered the impact of the aircraft's touchdown point and speed on the available stopping distance. The investigation noted that the pilot was aware of the potential for windshear caused by nearby trees and was managing the presence of another aircraft on the runway.