What happened
On the day of the incident, a chartered aircraft was performing a medical transport mission, tasked with moving a three-person medical team from Taieri Aerodrome to Alexandra and back. During the return leg of the flight, the pilot prepared for departure from Alexandra. After observing easterly winds of approximately 10 knots, the pilot backtracked to a position roughly 150 to 200 meters from the start of runway 14.
With 10 degrees of flaps selected, the pilot began the take-off roll. While the aircraft reached 50 knots and the nose was raised, the plane failed to maintain altitude, briefly becoming airborne before settling back toward the ground. Realizing the climb was unsuccessful, the pilot attempted to abort the take-off. However, the aircraft could not be stopped before striking a boundary fence. The aircraft continued traveling on its wheels across uneven terrain, eventually coming to a stop in a small gully located 280 meters beyond the runway end.
The investigation
TAIC investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the failed departure, focusing on the environmental conditions and the aircraft's performance. The investigation looked into the pilot's assessment of the wind and the specific configuration of the aircraft during the roll. The inquiry also evaluated the physical state of the terrain and the impact with the perimeter fencing.
Findings
Several factors contributed to the unsuccessful take-off and subsequent excursion. The investigation determined that an unexpected shift in wind direction and strength likely played a critical role. This environmental change, when paired with the specific take-off technique used by the pilot and an adverse weight and balance configuration, resulted in the aircraft requiring more runway distance than was available to achieve a safe climb.