What happened
On 5 July 2012, a Cessna F172M Skyhawk, registration G-BCOL, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Netherthorpe Airfield in South Yorkshire. The flight was operating on a grass runway, specifically runway 24, which featured a 1.9% upward gradient.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot noted that the aircraft was not accelerating as expected. Although the pilot had previously operated from this surface, the grass was damp at the time of the event. The pilot applied 10° of flaps to facilitate a short-field takeoff. Despite attempts to rotate the aircraft, it failed to lift off the ground. Consequently, the aircraft overran the 553 m runway, passed through a hedge, and eventually came to rest in an inverted position. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained extensive damage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the conditions of the airfield and the aircraft's recent history, noting that the aircraft had recently completed its routine annual maintenance. The pilot's pre-flight inspections, including fuel tests, had been completed successfully, and the fuel tanks were approximately three-quarters full. The investigation also considered the pilot's experience, noting 101 total flying hours, with 3/5 of those hours being on this specific type.
Findings
- The aircraft failed to achieve sufficient airspeed for takeoff.
- The primary factor contributing to the overrun was the combination of the damp grass surface and the uphill slope of the runway.
- The pilot also considered the possibility of a light tailwind component contributing to the lack of acceleration.