What happened
On 4 June 2008, a Eurostar aircraft, registration G-CDVP, was preparing for departure from an unlicensed grass strip near Chilbolton. The pilot, who was flying privately, had arrived at the airfield earlier that day and had received a telephone briefing from the airfield owner. After taxiing to the threshold of Runway 24, the pilot assessed the wind conditions as being approximately 180 degrees at 6 to 8 knots.
As the aircraft accelerated for takeoff, it became airborne at a speed of roughly 45 to 50 knots, approximately 150 metres from the start of the runway. During the climb, the aircraft passed above trees running parallel to the runway. As the pilot attempted to correct for the right wing lifting, the left wing struck a set of power lines situated at a height of about 5 and 0 feet. The impact caused the aircraft to roll in an anti-clockwise direction over the cables and crash into an adjacent crop field. The impact resulted in serious injuries to the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the airfield layout and the specific positioning of the aircraft during the takeoff roll. It was noted that the airfield, which operates on a prior permission required basis, was unmarked and lacked defined runway edges. The investigation established that the runway area consisted of a strip of short grass situated within a larger field. Because the grass was due to be cut, the edges of the usable runway were difficult to distinguish.
Furthermore, the investigation looked into the location of the power lines, which run parallel to the runway edge. These lines, consisting of triple 33 KvA lines, are supported by wooden poles and are marked with orange balls. The investigators also reviewed the pilot's decision-making regarding the takeoff position, noting that the pilot had aligned the aircraft on a section of short grass that was closer to the obstacles than the standard runway area.