What happened
On 3 August 2011, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, registration G-BWNU, was involved in a ground incident at Little Rissington Airfield in Wiltshire. During a private flight, the pilot had previously landed at the airfield and was taxiing toward a parking area. While navigating the airfield, the pilot encountered a significant lip where a grass area met a concrete taxiway.
Concerned that traversing this uneven junction might result in a propeller strike, the pilot attempted to find an alternative route to the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft's left wing struck a barbed wire fence located on an access road, and subsequently, the wing hit a concrete post. The pilot noted a "ticking" sound during the impact but was unable to halt the aircraft before the collision with the post occurred. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the path taken by the aircraft and the physical evidence of the impact. The inspection of the aircraft revealed damage specifically to the left wing tip and the leading edge of the left wing.