What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-12-02 involved a PIPER PA-34-200T, registration G-ROLA, at Top Farm, Royston, Hertfordshire, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft overran the runway due to an excessive approach speed and a long landing position, compounded by poor braking action on the soft grass surface.

Piper PA-34-200T Overruns Grass Runway in Hertfordshire

A private Piper PA-34-200T aircraft overran a grass airstrip near Royston, resulting in nosegear collapse and significant propeller damage.

What happened

On 2 December 2001, a Piper PA-34-200T, registration G-ROLA, was conducting a private flight from Elstree to a grass airstrip located near Royston, Hertfordshire. During the approach to runway 24, the pilot found the aircraft was traveling too fast and was too high on the final leg. Upon touchdown, the aircraft landed approximately one-third of the way down the 900m runway and experienced a bounce before settling into the landing roll.

As the aircraft continued along the strip, the pilot encountered very poor braking action due to the short grass and soft ground conditions. The aircraft subsequently overran the end of the runway, crossed a dirt track, and entered a field of soft grass. The nosewheel dug into the soft earth, leading to its collapse and causing damage to the nosecone, nosegear, and both propellers. There were no injuries to the pilot.

The investigation

Investigators examined the pilot's approach and the environmental conditions at the landing site. The investigation established that the pilot found the airspeed indicator difficult to interpret because it displayed speeds in both knots and miles per hour, a feature he had not encountered previously. This difficulty likely contributed to the high-speed approach.

Furthermore, the investigation looked into the pilot's landing technique and familiarity with the site. It was noted that the pilot's familiarity with the specific strip may have influenced a subconscious decision to land further down the runway to avoid known soft patches near the threshold. Additionally, the pilot's background flying primarily single-engine tailwheel aircraft meant that a bounce on touchdown was a common occurrence, which may have influenced the decision not to execute a go-around after the initial bounce.

Findings

The pilot's approach was characterized by excessive speed and altitude.
The aircraft required the full length of the runway to stop safely under the prevailing conditions, but the landing was performed too far down the strip.
The presence of soft ground at the end of the runway caused the nosewheel to collapse.
The pilot's difficulty reading the dual-unit airspeed indicator contributed to the high approach speed.
The pilot's decision not to initiate a go-around following the touchdown bounce was influenced by his previous experience with tailwheel aircraft.