What happened
The pilot reported that he initiated a takeoff roll during the early morning hours under night conditions. The departure occurred from a grass airstrip while operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Due to poor visibility, the pilot was unable to visually identify the runway centerline or boundaries effectively.
Consequently, the aircraft did not align correctly with the intended takeoff path. As the airplane accelerated, it drifted off the active surface and rolled across at least two taxiways. During this excursion, the landing gear struck obstacles on the ground, resulting in the shearing of the gear structure. The pilot noted that the runway edge lights were not illuminated, which likely contributed to the inability to maintain proper alignment during the low-visibility operation.
The investigation
The pilot's statement indicates that the primary mechanical failure was the shearing of the landing gear. This damage occurred as a direct result of the aircraft leaving the paved or prepared surface and traversing taxiways where ground obstacles were present. No other mechanical failures were cited in the initial narrative.
Findings
Several factors contributed to this incident:
- The pilot failed to align the airplane correctly for takeoff due to poor visibility.
- The runway edge lights were not illuminated, reducing visual cues.
- The operation took place in instrument meteorological conditions at night on a grass airstrip without adequate lighting references.
Safety message
Pilots operating at uncontrolled or minimally equipped airfields during night or IMC should ensure that all available lighting systems are functional and illuminated. If runway edge lights are not operational, alternative visual references or aborting the takeoff may be necessary to prevent ground collisions.