Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance, G-BTCA, 23 August 2009

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 10 December 2014

• Category: General aviation - fixed wing
• Report type: Bulletin - Correspondence investigation
• Date of occurrence: 23 August 2009
• Aircraft type: Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance
• Location: Alderney Airport, Channel Islands
• Registration: G-BTCA

Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance, G-BTCA

Summary:

On approach to Alderney, the pilot temporarily lost sight of the airfield due to a bank of sea fog rolling in from the south. Having passed through the runway centreline, the angle of bank was seen by witnesses to increase to the left, following which the aircraft descended and stuck the ground, just before and slightly to the left of the runway threshold. The pilot attributed the accident to the aircraft having been caught by a sudden gust of wind, or maybe a thermal. Warnings are published in the UK AIP and various flight guides to exercise caution due to turbulence caused by nearby cliffs.

Download report:

Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance, G-BTCA 02-10.pdf (311.28 kb)

Published 10 December 2014