What happened
On 2 September 1998, a Gulfstream AA-5A, registration G-BGCM, was performing a private flight from an airfield in Allensmore, Herefordshire. The takeoff was conducted from Runway 18, which consisted of a dry, hard grass surface. Weather conditions were reported as fine, with a surface wind originating from 200° at 10 knots.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full power while holding the brakes and had selected 10° of flaps. While the initial acceleration and lift-off proceeded normally, the aircraft experienced a sudden drop in altitude once it reached approximately ten feet. This descent caused the aircraft to strike a hedge located at the airfield boundary. Following the impact, the aircraft continued into a field beyond the hedge, where it eventually came to a stop after encountering tractor tracks. The impact with the tracks caused the left main landing gear to detach.
There were no fatalities and no injuries to the two occupants on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the loss of altitude and the subsequent damage to the aircraft, which included substantial damage to the wings and the main landing gear.