What happened
On 9 August 2002, a modified Beechcraft Bonanza A36, registration N7205R, was attempting a takeoff from a private grass airstrip at Ballyneale, Co Limerick. The aircraft had recently arrived from Leeds Airport to visit the owner's property. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft drifted toward the left edge of the runway, passing through a section of the strip that was wet.
As the aircraft rotated, it entered a steep, nose-up attitude. The pilot attempted to recover the stall by retracting the flaps, but the aircraft continued to lose airspeed and began to sink. The aircraft subsequently struck a hedger and an earth bank, before impacting the ground in an adjacent field. The accident resulted in one fatality among the passengers, while the pilot and the second passenger sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's experience, and the airfield's characteristics. Investigators found that the engine was operating at full power at the time of the initial impact, ruling out engine failure as a cause. The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within certified limits, and there were no evidence of mechanical defects prior to the collision.
Review of the pilot's records revealed very limited recent experience on this specific turbine-powered model, and no prior experience operating this type of aircraft from grass runways. Additionally, the pilot was unfamiliar with the specific Ballyneale airstrip.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot did not achieve adequate airspeed for the climb-out, leading to a stall.
- The pilot's limited recent experience with this high-performance, complex aircraft contributed to the loss of control.
- The pilot lacked experience operating this aircraft type from grass airstrips or the specific airfield involved.
- The use of a takeoff flap setting that deviated from the approved flight manual for this modified aircraft was noted.
- The aircraft rotated at an insufficient airspeed, and the subsequent excessive nose-up attitude made a successful recovery impossible.