What happened
On 27 November 2000, a Piper PA-32-300, registration G-BADO, was involved in an accident at Meppershall Airfield, Bedfordshire. The aircraft had been at the airfield since late October for annual maintenance and avionics upgrades. On the day of the occurrence, the pilot arrived at approximately 14:30 hrs to collect the aircraft. During the preflight inspection and engine start, significant smoke was observed within the cockpit, which led to an immediate engine shutdown. The smoke was eventually identified as originating from a trapped cable, which was subsequently repaired.
By the time the repairs were finished, darkness had fallen. Despite the runway being unlit, the pilot elected to proceed with the flight, intending to use the aircraft's landing light for visual reference. At approximately 17:15 hrs, the aircraft lined up on Runway 20. The surface of the grass runway was wet, and the wind was recorded at 180º/10 kt. After dimming the cockpit lights and applying full power, the aircraft began to drift left of the centerline. The left wingtip collided with a hedge adjacent to the runway, causing the tip tank to rupture and ignite a fire in the vegetation. The impact tore the left wing from the airframe, causing the aircraft to invert and come to rest on a road beyond the hedge. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, escaped through the windscreen after the door became jammed. There were no injuries to the crew.
The investigation
The investigation was based on an accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the aircraft's condition, the runway environment, and the sequence of events leading to the loss of directional control. The investigation established that the aircraft had undergone recent maintenance and that a mechanical issue involving a cable had necessitated a delay in the flight schedule.
Findings
- The aircraft's left wing was destroyed and the airframe was damaged beyond economic repair.
- The pilot attempted a night departure from an unlit grass runway using only the aircraft's single landing light for guidance.
- The pilot's decision to take off at night from an unlit runway led to the aircraft deviating from the centerline and striking the hedge.