Accident Details
On 3 August 2011 at 1355 UTC, a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk (registration G-BWNU, year of manufacture 1978) sustained damage to its left wing tip and left wing leading edge while taxiing at Little Rissington Airfield, Wiltshire. The aircraft was engaged in a private flight with one pilot and one passenger on board. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had 733 hours total flying experience, including 534 hours on type, with 27 hours in the last 90 days and 10 hours in the last 28 days. The weather conditions were clear, and Runway 23 was in use.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had landed at Little Rissington earlier in the day and, while taxiing to the parking area, observed a significant lip at the junction between a grass and a concrete taxiway. When preparing to depart, he was concerned that crossing the lip might cause a propeller strike. Therefore, he decided to find an alternative route to the runway. He turned along what appeared to be a reasonable taxiway but was in fact an access road to the airfield, bordered by a barbed wire fence on the left. As he proceeded, the left wing fairing struck some wire and then a concrete fence post. The pilot became aware of the situation due to a “ticking” noise but was unable to stop before the wing impacted the post.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the left wing tip and left wing leading edge. No other damage to the aircraft was reported.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, powered by one Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine. It was manufactured in 1978. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was being operated under a private flight.