What happened
On 18 May 2025, a Piper PA 46-350P, registration N3117J, was performing a private flight from Kilkeel (Greencastle) Airfield in County Down, Northern Ireland, destined for Fairoaks Airport. During the takeoff roll on Runway 19, the pilot began the rotation process just as the aircraft reached a section of the runway where the mown strip widened to allow for parking and refueling.
As the aircraft became airborne, the left main gear entered a patch of long grass located at the edge of the runway strip. This contact caused a rapid deceleration and a sharp yaw to the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to apply right rudder, the aircraft could not be recovered and continued to veer off the paved surface. The aircraft subsequently struck an earth bank and an adjacent hedge, resulting in substantial damage to the wing and parts of the fuselage. All four occupants—the pilot and three passengers—exited the aircraft through the main door without injury.
The investigation
The investigation established that the runway at Kilkeel consists of a single grass strip, approximately 750 m long and 5 m wide, with a dashed centerline but no edge markings. The pilot noted that the grass bordering the mown strip was very long.
During the takeoff, the pilot experienced a loss of visual reference to the runway centerline. This was attributed to two simultaneous factors: the widening of the mown area, which removed peripheral visual cues, and the physical obstruction of the aircraft's nose during rotation, which blocked the pilot's forward view. The investigation also noted the significant torque produced by the engine during the takeoff phase, which contributed to the difficulty in maintaining directional control once the aircraft began to yaw.