What happened
On March 11, 2009, a Piper PA 28-181 (ARCHER II), registered D-EAOB, departed Athboy Airfield (EIMH) for a private flight to Cheltenham, UK. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and two passengers. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft failed to accelerate or climb as anticipated by the pilot. As the plane attempted to depart, the port stabilizer struck a hedge marking the airfield boundary.
Following the impact, the pilot executed a forced landing in an adjacent stubble field. During the landing sequence, the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a fractured nose wheel and a collapsed starboard undercarriage leg. The aircraft came to rest approximately 165 meters into the field. There were no injuries to the pilot or passengers, and no post-impact fire occurred.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the aircraft's performance, the runway conditions, and the pilot's pre-flight preparations. Investigators noted that the grass runway was wet and showed signs of the nose wheel digging into the mud. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's weight and balance calculations, which placed the aircraft at 95.5% of its maximum takeoff weight for normal operations.
Technical inspections confirmed the aircraft was well-maintained and serviceable, with no issues found in the fuel or control systems. However, the investigation highlighted that the manufacturer's performance charts are "unfactored," meaning they are based on ideal conditions (paved, dry, and level) and do not account for the specific environmental variables present during this flight.