What happened
On 17 April 2015, a Druine D.62B Condor, registration G-AWAT, was performing a private flight from a private grass airstrip located east of Oxford. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft encountered a series of raised farm vehicle tracks that ran perpendicular to the runway. The uneven surface caused the aircraft to become airborne before the pilot had achieved sufficient airspeed. This premature liftoff led to an aerodynamic stall, after which the aircraft descended and struck the ground with significant force.
The investigation
The investigation, prompted by an accident report submitted by the pilot, focused on the sequence of events during the takeoff phase. Investigators examined the runway conditions and the impact of the terrain on the aircraft's flight path. The assessment confirmed that the undulations caused by the farm tracks disrupted the aircraft's stability during acceleration. The resulting heavy landing caused the right landing gear to collapse and led to extensive structural damage, including impacts to the propeller, the lower engine cowl, and the right main spar and skin of the wing.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the undulating ground surface created by farm tracks crossing the runway.
- The terrain caused the G-AWAT to become airborne prematurely.
- The loss of airspeed following the premature liftoff resulted in a stall.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board.