What happened
On 5 September 2015, a Cessna 210D Centurion, registration G-OWAN, was involved in an accident during a private flight departing from Tosside Airstrip in Lancashire. Following overnight rain, the pilot had delayed the departure by eight hours to ensure the grass runway surface had dried sufficiently, even walking the strip to check its condition.
The takeoff was performed in a 170° direction, utilizing a downhill slope, with a reported 5 kt tailwind. While the start of the takeoff roll proceeded normally, the aircraft began to veer to the left as it became light on its wheels. Despite the application of full right rudder and braking, the aircraft exited the runway and entered an adjacent field. As the aircraft decelerated, the nosewheel made contact with the ground. Despite maintaining full power, the aircraft came to a sudden stop and overturned. The pilot, who sustained no injuries, successfully shut down the engine, fuel, and electrical systems before exiting the aircraft through the left door.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the runway conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the takeoff roll. The pilot noted that the aircraft's deviation from the runway centerline may have been triggered by a small patch of soft earth encountered during the run. Because the aircraft was nearly airborne when the deviation occurred, the pilot noted that the brakes provided minimal corrective effect.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing strut, the right wingtip, the rear fuselage, and the fin.
- The aircraft veered left off the runway surface due to a suspected patch of soft earth on the grass strip.