What happened
During operations at Anholt Airfield, an aircraft attempted to depart the runway on three separate occasions. Prior to the initial departure attempt, the pilot did not adjust the elevator trim to a neutral setting, leaving it in a 1.5 unit nose-down configuration. This configuration prevented the pilot from rotating the aircraft during the takeoff roll, necessitating an aborted takeoff. A second attempt was made shortly after but was also abandoned due to the same trim-related issues.
On the third attempt, the aircraft encountered a tailwind component approaching the operational limits. As the aircraft lifted off, the stall warning alarm activated. In an effort to increase airspeed, the pilot lowered the aircraft's nose, which resulted in the right main landing gear striking a sand dune. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control, leading to a crash landing. Although the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, all eight occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage without injury.
Findings
- The pilot failed to set the elevator trim to the neutral position before the departure attempts.
- Improper elevator trim settings prevented successful rotation during the first two takeoff attempts.
- High tailwind components contributed to the aerodynamic instability during the final attempt.