Incident
On 15 April 2015, a Cessna F172H Skyhawk (registration G-AWGD) was involved in an accident at Keyston Airfield, Cambridgeshire. The aircraft sustained major damage to its wings, engine cowling, and nose landing gear. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries.
Aircraft and Pilot
The aircraft was a 1968 Cessna F172H Skyhawk powered by a single Continental O-300-D piston engine. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and was 47 years old. He had accumulated 104 total flying hours, with 75 hours on the type. His recent flying experience included 3 hours in the last 90 days and 1 hour in the last 28 days.
Sequence of Events
The pilot initially conducted a low approach and go-around to assess the condition of the grass Runway 02/20, which was 724 metres long. He then landed on Runway 02, which slopes upward in the landing direction, without any issues. Approximately two minutes later, he elected to depart on the reciprocal Runway 20 to take advantage of the downslope and shorten the ground roll. The wind was from 270° and variable in strength.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft struck a ridge in the runway and became airborne prematurely. Despite applying into-wind aileron, the pilot could not prevent the left wing from contacting a tall hedge. The impact spun the aircraft into the hedge and through approximately 180° before it came to rest.
Damage and Aftermath
The aircraft suffered major damage to both wings, the engine cowling, and the nose landing gear. The pilot shut down the fuel and electrical systems and vacated the aircraft. In his report, the pilot cited an unexpected crosswind gust combined with his unfamiliarity with the airfield as contributing factors to the accident.