What happened
On 21 March 2015, a Glastar, registration G-GERY, was preparing for departure from the grass runway 32 at Hollym Airfield in Yorkshire. The flight was a private operation involving a pilot and one passenger. Weather conditions at the time included winds from 340° at 16 knots, with intermittent gusts.
After observing a Cessna 172 depart successfully from the same runway, the pilot proceeded with the takeoff. The initial ground roll proceeded normally, and the aircraft became airborne. While maintaining a low altitude to gain airspeed, the pilot attempted a right-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a sudden roll to the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct the motion using right rudder and right stick input, the controls proved ineffective. The left wingtip made contact with the ground, causing the aircraft to yaw left and the nose to drop. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground before swinging around and coming to a halt. There were no injuries to the occupants, though the aircraft sustained damage to the engine, wings, fuselage, and tailplane.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events following the takeoff and the environmental conditions present at the airfield. The pilot noted that the aircraft's door became jammed during the event, necessitating an exit through the passenger door. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent flying experience and the specific wind conditions at the time of the incident.