Date:	Wednesday 29 September 2021
Time:	overnight
Type:	Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	G-GUSS
MSN:	28R-30512
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Location:	Stapleford Aerodrome, Abridge, Essex (EGSG) -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Standing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Stapleford Airport (EGSG)
Destination airport:

Narrative:
G-AWAZ: Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow was one of seven aircraft that was severely damaged in storms that struck Stapleford Aerodrome, Abridge, Essex overnight on 28-29 September 2021. According to a contemporary newspaper report in "The Sun" on 29 September 2021

"A storm (described as 'a mini tornado') ripped across Stapleford Aerodrome, Abridge, Essex, overnight on the night of 28/29 September 2021, causing major damage to buildings and aircraft. Forty helicopters and planes were blown around by the force of the 20-second twister, which wreaked havoc at Stapleford Aerodrome.

A new silver and blue Aerospatiale helicopter — worth more than £1million — was tossed on to its side and its rotors smashed. Other choppers were spun in circles by the monstrous gust. Cessna light aircraft were among at least eight planes damaged overnight, with some flipped over on to their roofs

A source told The Sun yesterday: “Staff arrived to a scene of complete chaos. Fixed-wing planes and helicopters were strewn across the airfield on their roofs and doors were ripped off hangars. The tornado seems to have cut a path through the parked aircraft — some were wrecked while others a few yards away never moved. The damage will run into millions.”

Although G-AWAZ (built 1968) was still registered in January 2025, it would appear to have been withdrawn from use following the incident at Stapleford Aerodrome on 28-29 September 2021 for the following reasons:

1) The total amount of flying hours accumulated on the airframe was 3,711 as at 15 March 2021 and has not increased since.
2) The last recorded flight of G-AWAZ was from the area of Lewes, Sussex to Stapleford, Essex on 26 September 2021 (three days before the above incident). No flights have been recorded since then.
3) The Certificate of Airworthiness/Permit to fly expired on 17 April 2022 and has not been renewed.
4) The airframe was the subject of a NO-FLY declaration effective 12 April 2022.
5) The current registered owners are a well known firm of aircraft breakers and dismantlers in Thurrock, Essex (which implies that the aircraft has been "Withdrawn from use" for breaking up as spares and scrap).

1. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16283729/freak-tornado-essex-airfield-costing-pounds-aircraft-damage/
2. https://airport-data.com/aircraft/G-AWAZ.html
3. https://www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/G-AWAZ/
4. https://privatejetclubs.com/2021/09/29/freak-tornado-rips-through-essex-airfield-costing-millions-in-aircraft-damage/
5. G-AWAZ History 1968-1972: https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-AWAZ-1.pdf
6. G-AWAZ History 1972-1985: https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-AWAZ-2.pdf
7. G-AWAZ History 1985-1986: https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-AWAZ-3.pdf
8. Earlier incident Elmsett Airfield, Suffolk 7 April 2013: https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/piper-pa-28r-180-cherokee-arrow-g-awaz-7-april-2013#piper-pa-28r-180-cherokee-arrow-g-awaz
9. Last flight 26 September 2021: ttps://www.airnavradar.com/data/registration/G-AWAZ/1661249067
10. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/g-awaz
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stapleford_Aerodrome#Today

Built 1968. First regsitered in the UK from new as G-AWAZ on 3 January 1968. Between 3 January 1968 and 12 April 2022, G-AWAZ passed through the hands of 19 successive owners. The same aircraft had been repaired and returned to service after an earlier incident at Elmsett Airfield, Suffolk 7 April 2013 (see separate AAIB report)

Although G-AWAZ was still registered in January 2025, it would appear to have been withdrawn from use following the incident at Stapleford Aerodrome on 28-29 September 2021 for the following reasons:

1) The total amount of flying hours accumulated on the airframe was 3,711 as at 15 March 2021 and has not increased since.
2) The last recorded flight of G-AWAZ was from the area of Lewes, Sussex to Stapleford, Essex on 26 September 2021 (three days before the above incident). No flights have been recorded since then.
3) The Certificate of Airworthiness/Permit to fly expired on 17 April 2022 and has not been renewed.
4) The airframe was the subject of a NO-FLY declaration effective 12 April 2022.
5) The current registered owners are a well known firm of aircraft breakers and dismantlers in Thurrock, Essex (which implies that the aircraft was been "Withdrawn from use" for breaking up as spares and scrap).

G-AWAZ Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow overturned at Stapleford Aerodrome, Abridge, Essex (EGSG) on 29 September 2021

Freak tornado rips through airfield costing millions of pounds in aircraft damagehttps://t.co/vCBdeHYl19 pic.twitter.com/kyZhgwDRoD

— The Scottish Sun (@ScottishSun) September 30, 2021

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
09-Jan-2025 07:51	Dr. John Smith	Added