What happened
On 16 December 2000, a Piper PA-38-112, registration G-BGSI, was performing a solo training circuit at Sleap Aerodrome in Shropshire. The aircraft, operated by a student pilot, was executing its second landing on Runway 23. At the time of the incident, the surface wind was recorded at 5 knots from 210°.
Following touchdown, the pilot applied power to initiate a touch-and-go maneuver. During this process, the aircraft failed to maintain directional control and drifted left of the runway centerline onto the adjacent grass area. As the aircraft transitioned into a ploughed section of the field, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft remained upright, and no fire occurred. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation, based on the accident report submitted by the pilot, focused on the sequence of events during the landing roll. The examination established that the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, spinner, nose landing gear, and the right wing tip.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the failure to apply sufficient right rudder during the application of power following touchdown.
- The collapse of the nose landing gear was triggered by the aircraft encountering a ploughed area of ground after leaving the runway surface.