What happened
On August 4, 2012, a Socata TB 10 departed from the grass runway 30 at Konstanz airfield (EDTZ) for a VFR flight. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger. During the takeoff roll, the pilot observed muddy depressions in the runway surface near the beginning of the runway and just before the halfway marker. Fearing a potential landing gear failure, the pilot applied left rudder and attempted to lift the aircraft off the ground.
Following liftoff, the aircraft drifted to the left and veered off the runway. While the pilot attempted to correct the course by steering back to the right, the aircraft struck the ground. The airfield controller observed the aircraft depart the runway, fly over parked aircraft, and pass very closely over the control tower. During its descent, the aircraft struck a tent occupied by individuals before impacting the ground and catching fire. The impact caused the aircraft to be destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation established that the aircraft's right wing and propeller were the first components to contact the ground, followed by the left wing striking the tent. The wreckage came to rest after sliding approximately 20 meters. The investigation confirmed that the left wing and left main landing gear were torn off, and the engine mount and nose gear were broken at the firewall. The impact triggered a fire, which was initially suppressed by the airfield controller using a powder extinguisher before being extinguished by the fire department with foam.
Findings
- The pilot's evasive maneuver (applying left rudder and attempting to rotate early) to avoid runway depressions caused the aircraft to deviate from the runway centerline.
- The aircraft's path led it over parked aircraft and the control tower before striking a tent.
- The accident resulted in two serious injuries to the occupants of the aircraft and one serious injury to a person inside the tent.
- The aircraft was destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire.