What happened
On 21 August 2004, a Cessna T303 Crusader, registration G-PUSI, was performing a private takeoff from the grass runway 32 at Newmarket Racecourse, Suffolk. Shortly after the aircraft lifted off from the ground, the pilot experienced vibrations and suspected that the two Continental TSIO-520-AE engines had become desynchronised. At the moment this sensation occurred, the aircraft was traveling below the minimum single-engine manoeuvring speed.
Given the remaining runway length and the rising terrain at the far end of the airfield, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff and land straight ahead on the grass. Upon touchdown, the pilot discovered that the landing gear had been retracted during the initial takeoff sequence and had not been re-lowered. The aircraft subsequently slid on its belly for roughly 100 metres before coming to a complete stop. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to the flaps and the propellers were bent.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading from the takeoff attempt to the landing. The examination established that while the pilot was managing an engine-related concern, the primary issue during the landing phase was the configuration of the aircraft's landing gear.