AAIB investigation to Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk, G-BWNU
Struck a runway light while landing, Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire, 29 August 2015.
Summary:
The pilot was carrying out touch-and-go circuits to Runway 26, which has an asphalt surface and runway lighting. The weather was good, with a light wind varying between 250° and 270° at about 4 kt. Visibility was in excess of 10 km and there were scattered clouds at 4,000 ft. The pilot had flown two normal powered circuits, touching down on the runway threshold markings and, on the third circuit, decided to carry out a glide approach to the same touchdown point. At the end of the downwind leg, at a height of about 1,000 ft, he closed the throttle, established the glide and selected the first stage of flap. The airspeed was reduced to 70 kt and the second stage of flap was selected while a continuous turn approach was flown. When the pilot was satisfied he would achieve his aiming point, he selected the third and final stage of flap. The sink rate increased and he applied power but during the touchdown the left landing gear wheel struck a threshold runway light. After landing, the pilot found the left flap damaged by glass debris. He considered that an earlier application of power would have prevented the incident.
Bulletin correction
A correction was issued to this report in the May Bulletin
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