What happened
On May 23, 2017, a pilot operating a Virus SW 100 intended to fly from Babimost airport to the Powodów landing field to perform several circuit patterns. After completing two circuits, the pilot landed at Powodów for a short rest. Following a 10-minute break, the pilot performed the necessary checklists and systems checks before taxiing to the start of the runway to resume flight operations.
Weather conditions at the time were favorable, with good visibility, a cloud base of several thousand feet, and a light laminar crosswind from the right not exceeding 3 m/s. Upon takeoff, immediately after liftoff, the pilot perceived that the aircraft was climbing too aggressively. In an attempt to correct the climb rate, the pilot applied a control input by pushing the control stick forward. However, this movement was excessive, causing the aircraft to transition from a climb into a sudden descent. At approximately 14:45 LMT, the nose of the aircraft struck the runway surface.
Following the impact, the pilot heard cracking and breaking sounds and immediately reduced the throttle to minimum to end the takeoff roll. Due to uneven braking, the aircraft veered to the left and came to a halt across the runway. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft unassisted and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events from the post-rest takeoff attempt through the impact and subsequent loss of directional control on the runway. The investigation examined the pilot's control inputs, the aircraft's aerodynamic response, and the environmental conditions present during the accident.