What happened
On 12 August 2005, a modified Cessna P210N, registration N6593W, departed from Brittas House Airfield in County Limerick, bound for Lisbon, Portugal. Shortly after lifting off from the grass runway, the four occupants of the aircraft heard a distinct thumping sound. The pilot, suspecting a bird strike, continued the flight toward Portugal. During the climb, the pilot noticed the fuel gauge for the port wingtip tank indicated it was empty, while the starboard tank still held fuel. Due to this uncertainty regarding fuel levels, the pilot decided to divert to Jersey Airport.
Upon landing in Jersey, an inspection revealed that the aircraft had sustained extensive damage. The entire left wingtip tank and a portion of the port wing and aileron assembly were missing. The investigation later confirmed that the aircraft had struck a 5/0-foot pine tree located near the end of the runway during the initial takeoff phase.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the takeoff performance, the aircraft's configuration, and the physical evidence at the site. The investigation established that the aircraft, which had been upgraded with a powerful Rolls-Royce Allison turboprop engine, was operating at its maximum all-up weight.
Investigators analyzed the impact angle, determining it was approximately +20 degrees. The damage was such that the severed wing section was pushed upward and backward, making the structural failure invisible to the crew from inside the cockpit. The investigation also reviewed the flight path and the pilot's management of the aircraft's directional control during the high-torque takeoff roll.