What happened
On April 22, 2000, a Socata TB 200 departed from runway 26 at the Mainz-Finthen airfield for a local flight with four occupants on board. Shortly after takeoff, at a speed of approximately 107 km/h, the aircraft climbed at a high angle of attack to an altitude of only about 3 meters. After traveling roughly 400 meters, the aircraft settled back onto the runway before the end of the pavement.
In an attempt to stop the aircraft, the pilot applied heavy braking, causing the aircraft to overshoot the runway end and come to a halt approximately 30 meters beyond the pavement. The intense braking caused the right landing gear to overheat and ignite. While the occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft without injury, the fire spread to the right wing, resulting in heavy damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The BFU investigation established that the aircraft was overloaded by 33 kg at the time of the accident. Although the pilot stated that the flaps were in the takeoff position, investigators found the flaps were actually in the retracted position. This configuration, combined with the overload, significantly increased the required takeoff roll.
While the available runway was sufficient for the required distance, the pilot's decision to rotate at a low speed meant the aircraft had not reached the necessary climb speed. The investigation also noted that the airfield controller had limited visibility of the takeoff and was only alerted to the incident via radio. Furthermore, the investigation found that the airfield's fire extinguishing vehicle was not immediately available to assist, and the arriving professional fire brigade struggled to locate the correct access point.
Findings
- The primary cause of the aborted takeoff was the pilot's failure to follow the aircraft's flight manual regarding flap settings.
- The aircraft was overloaded by 33 kg, which increased the required takeoff distance.
- The fire spread and caused significant damage because the airfield's internal fire suppression resources were not effectively deployed.
- The arrival of the professional fire brigade was delayed due to difficulties in accessing the site via the only open entrance.