What happened
During a nighttime departure from Harrisburg Airport, an aircraft experienced a runway excursion during its takeoff roll. While operating in conditions characterized by ground fog, the pilot was unable to maintain the proper path, causing the plane to drift toward the left side of the runway. The aircraft eventually exited the paved surface and came to a stop in a nearby area.
There were no injuries reported for the pilot following the incident. However, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several environmental and operational factors that contributed to the event. The primary cause was a failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff run, which led to the aircraft swerving. Several contributing elements were noted:
- Reduced visibility caused by the sudden encounter with ground fog during the night departure.
- Obstructions on the airfield, specifically snow windrows.
- Impaired vision through the windshield due to dirt and fogging.
- The operational challenges of a single-pilot flight.
- The use of landing lights, which may have interacted with the atmospheric conditions.