What happened
On 21 June 2022, a Taylor Monoplane, registration G-BRUO, was performing a private flight at Fishburn Airfield in County Durham. During the takeoff roll on Runway 26, the pilot encountered extremely poor forward visibility, which necessitated using the side of the runway as a visual reference during the initial stages of the roll.
As the aircraft accelerated and the tail lifted, providing improved visual cues, the pilot identified that the aircraft had drifted to the right of the intended centerline. In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot applied steering inputs that resulted in an over-correction in both directions. By the time the aircraft became airborne, it had drifted significantly to the right. Lacking sufficient altitude and airspeed to recover, the aircraft entered a corn field located to the north of the runway. Upon contact with the crop, the aircraft overturned, trapping the pilot underneath the wreckage. The pilot sustained one serious injury, specifically a fractured vertebra.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the takeoff roll, the environmental conditions, and the pilot's maneuvers. The weather at the time was reported as CAVOK with a light 5 kt northerly wind. The investigation noted that the engine separated from the aircraft upon impact, and the front fuselage sustained substantial damage.
Findings
- The pilot experienced significant difficulty maintaining visual alignment due to poor forward visibility during the early part of the takeoff.
- An attempt to correct the aircraft's lateral deviation led to erratic steering inputs in both directions.
- The aircraft's deviation to the right was uncorrected by the time of liftoff, leading to the loss of control.
- The pilot's lack of sufficient height and airspeed prevented an effective recovery from the excursion.