Incident Overview
On 9 June 2003 at 1020 hours UTC, a Beech B24R Sierra 200, registration G-BBVJ, was departing from Netherthorpe Airfield in South Yorkshire for a return flight to its home base at Sheffield City Airport following maintenance. The private flight was operated by a sole pilot holding a Private Pilot's Licence, aged 47, with a total flying experience of 204 hours (60 hours on type) and approximately 10 hours in the last 28 days.
Aircraft and Environmental Conditions
The aircraft, manufactured in 1974, was powered by a single Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 piston engine. Weather conditions were fine with a wind of 240°/7 knots. The pilot was familiar with the aircraft and had experience operating from grass surfaces, but had not previously flown from Netherthorpe. The runway in use was Runway 24, which has a grass surface with an uphill gradient of 1.9% and a Take-Off Run Available of 490 metres. Beyond the far end of Runway 24 lies a road and then a field.
Takeoff and Incident Sequence
The pilot performed a rolling takeoff with 20° of flap extended. The aircraft appeared to accelerate normally, but when approximately one-third of the runway remained, the aircraft crossed a bump in the runway and became airborne. The stall warning activated immediately, and eyewitnesses reported that the tail of the aircraft touched the runway surface as it became airborne. The pilot judged that there was insufficient runway remaining to abort the takeoff. With the aircraft apparently in a stalled condition, he decided to land in the field beyond the end of the runway.
Damage and Injuries
The landing resulted in slight damage to the nose wheel and propeller, and also to the windscreen. The pilot, who was wearing a lap and diagonal harness, vacated the aircraft through the normal exit uninjured. No passengers were on board.
Probable Cause
Not specified in the source.