Aircraft and Flight Details
On 8 October 1998, at 1416 UTC, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration G-BRHT, year of manufacture 1979, powered by one Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine) was on a private flight operated by a 64-year-old student pilot. The pilot had logged 83 total flying hours, with 8 hours on type, including 14 hours in the last 90 days and 9 hours in the last 28 days.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot was returning to Liverpool Airport after completing his Qualifying Cross Country flight as part of his training for a Private Pilot's Licence. At the airfield, there was significant work in progress on paved areas and a busy period of aircraft movements, generating high levels of radio traffic. The pilot made standard radio calls for entering the zone, including the phrase 'Student Pilot', and was cleared to Point Ince, which is not a published reporting point. Upon approaching Ince, he reported his position but received no reply, so he commenced an orbit to await further clearance. After informing Liverpool of his intentions, he was cleared to proceed to the east bank of the River Mersey to await clearance to join for a 3-mile final approach to Runway 27. When he reached the east bank, the pilot was instructed to 'TURN FINAL, NUMBER ONE'. On calling finals, he was cleared to land and requested to land long and expedite clearing the runway. The pilot replied that he would attempt to comply but noted he was a student and had not previously flown such an approach. The wind was from 300° at 10 kt, producing a crosswind close to his limits. Consequently, the pilot made a high approach at 10 kt above his normal approach speed to guard against anticipated turbulence. At this point, the pilot became stressed and flared too soon, causing the aircraft to land heavily and bounce three times before departing from the left side of the runway. The pilot regained the runway and taxied clear before shutting down the aircraft. While bouncing, the pilot considered a go-around but decided he was too far along the runway to execute it safely.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, and fuselage structure. No injuries were reported.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot considered that the cause of the accident was his acceptance of an ATC instruction for which he was not trained, in weather conditions that were close to his limits, at the end of a long and busy flying day. Investigation of ATC aspects was inconclusive due to the non-availability of RTF tapes from procedural errors.