What happened
On 27 June 1999, a Piper PA-34-200, registration G-EMER, was conducting a private training flight at Old Sarum Aerodrome in Wiltshire. The flight crew, consisting of an instructor and a student, intended to perform training maneuvers involving asymmetric power within the airfield circuit. The weather conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, and a dry grass runway in use.
During the flight, the crew successfully completed several exercises, including a single-engine go-around. They then transitioned to a simulated single-engine landing procedure, during which the left engine was throttled back to mimic a loss of thrust. As the aircraft approached the flare, the student pilot noted a reduction in airspeed and an observed sink and drift toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct the descent, the student increased power on the right engine, which triggered a roll to the left. This maneuver resulted in the left wingtip and the left propeller striking the runway surface. There were no injuries to the two crew members or the one passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the contact with the ground, specifically focusing on the aircraft's handling during the simulated engine failure. The inspection of the aircraft revealed that the left engine had been shock loaded, and the left outer wing required replacement following the impact.