What happened
On 27 August 2016, an Evans VP-1 Series 2, registration G-TGJH, was performing a private flight from the Ewesley Farm airstrip in Northumberland. During the takeoff roll from Runway 24, the right mainwheel of the aircraft moved into a patch of long grass situated beside the runway. This contact caused the aircraft to swing towards the right, directing it toward a nearby fence. While the aircraft successfully cleared the fence, it made a heavy landing on the uneven terrain beyond, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
At the time of the incident, weather conditions were reported as good, with light winds originating from the south.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the sequence of events during the takeoff roll and the environmental conditions at the unlicenced airstrip. The investigation examined the impact of the runway surface conditions and the aircraft's path relative to the perimeter fence.