What happened
On 22 March 2018, a Scottish Aviation Bulldog, registration G-BZMD, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Slinfold Airfield, West Sussex. Upon noticing soft patches on the runway surface, the pilot opted to perform a short-field takeoff, beginning the roll from a hardstanding area located at the runway's end.
As the aircraft accelerated, it passed over a section of soft ground, which caused a decrease in acceleration. The pilot reached the necessary rotation speed and successfully lifted the aircraft into the air. However, shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft's airspeed dropped significantly, triggering the stall warning system. The aircraft subsequently descended to a height of roughly 3 feet above the runway surface before striking a hedge at the airfield boundary. The single pilot on board sustained one injury. The aircraft came to a stop in a field approximately 15 meters past the hedge, having suffered extensive damage to its fuselage, propeller, and wings.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the takeoff and the aircraft's performance. The pilot, who held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had significant total flying experience, reported that the aircraft's acceleration had diminished after traversing the soft ground. While the aircraft did achieve flight, the subsequent loss of airspeed and the activation of the stall warning were the primary focus of the inquiry.