What happened
On 29 December 2000, a Cessna 152, registration G-BPTF, was involved in an incident at Deanland Airfield in Sussex during a private flight. Prior to the flight, the aircraft had been parked outdoors and exposed to harsh weather for roughly six weeks. Upon arrival, the pilot noted that ice had accumulated on several surfaces, including the wings, ailerons, flaps, elevators, tailplane, rear fuselage, and the engine cowling. After the pilot cleared the ice and completed a seven-minute engine run and all necessary pre-flight inspections, the aircraft lined up on the grass Runway 06.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full power and noted that acceleration proceeded normally. However, immediately after liftoff, the aircraft failed to achieve an adequate climb rate. In response to this lack of performance, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft away from the runway toward a nearby field. The aircraft subsequently completed a successful landing, resulting in no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to an aileron and a wingtip.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators looked into the environmental conditions and the state of the aircraft prior to departure. The weather on the day of the event was characterized by clear skies, good visibility, and calm winds, with a surface temperature of 0°C. The investigation considered the impact of the aircraft's recent exposure to the elements and the specific conditions of the grass runway.