What happened
On 20 August 2019, a Piper PA-28-181 Cherokee Archer II, registration G-BSIM, was preparing for a private flight from Branscombe Airfield in Devon to RAF Henlow. While lining up on Runway 28, the pilot encountered wind conditions that were significantly gustier than the reported 9 kt from 180°.
As the takeoff roll progressed, the pilot struggled to maintain directional control. The aircraft's nose lifted prematurely at a low airspeed, causing the plane to become briefly airborne. During this moment, the aircraft weathercocked into the wind and toward the airfield's boundary hedge. The pitch angle increased further, causing the aircraft to settle back onto its main wheels and for the tail to strike the ground. The aircraft then became airborne again in a high-pitch, low-speed state. In an attempt to turn back toward the runway, the aircraft drifted into the boundary hedge, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. There were no injuries to the pilot or the three passengers on board.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the takeoff roll. Investigators reviewed a moving image recording which showed that the windsock indicated wind gusts significantly higher than the reported 9 kt. It was noted that the maximum demonstrated crosswind for this aircraft type is 17 kt. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience and the sequence of the aircraft's loss of control.