What happened
On 16 September 2007, a Piper PA-32-301 Saratoga, registration G-BMDC, was involved in a fatal accident at the Shotteswell private airstrip near Banbury. The pilot had previously flown the aircraft from Wellesbourne Mountford to Dieppe, France, and was returning to the UK.
During the return flight, the pilot approached the Shotteswell airstrip and elected to use the shorter runway, designated as Runway 25. As the aircraft attempted to take off, it cleared a hedge at the upwind end of the runway but subsequently stalled. The aircraft veered into a steep left bank, striking trees on the far side of a road adjacent to the airstrip before cartwheelling into a field. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage and the airfield configuration. The investigation found that the aircraft's left wing tip struck the ground first, leading to the subsequent cartwheel. While the engine was examined for potential power loss, no mechanical failures were identified that could explain the loss of performance.
Investigators also reviewed the flight guide used by the pilot. The guide contained inaccurate information regarding the airstrip's runway lengths and designations. Specifically, the guide listed the east-west runway as 853 metres, whereas the actual usable length of Runway 25 was only approximately 302 metres. Furthermore, the guide's information regarding the orientation of the runways was incorrect.
Findings
- The pilot attempted a takeoff from a runway that was insufficiently long for a successful departure.
- Calculations indicated that even with the use of 25-degree flaps, the required takeoff distance to clear a 20-foot obstacle exceeded the available runway length when applying necessary safety factors.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft in a crosswind that was gusting beyond the maximum demonstrated capability for the type.
- Inaccurate data in the pilot's flight guide regarding runway dimensions likely contributed to the decision to use the shorter runway.
- The aircraft operator's policy did not permit operations from grass runways, yet the pilot chose to land at this unlicensed strip during his return leg.