What happened
On August 25, 2007, a Procaer F15 A Picchio, registration I-PICC, was performing a local pleasure flight from the Castiadas aerodrome in Sardinia. The aircraft was occupied by a pilot and one passenger. During the takeoff roll from runway 19, the pilot noticed that the ground roll was longer than usual and that acceleration was not progressing as expected. Despite this observation, the pilot continued the maneuver until the aircraft became airborne.
Immediately after liftoff, the pilot noted that the airspeed was not increasing sufficiently and decided to abort the takeoff. The aircraft subsequently made contact with the runway, lost directional control, and veered toward the right edge of the strip. The aircraft continued along the ground for approximately 300 meters before exiting the runway area and coming to rest in a ditch beyond the end of runway 01. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft and the destruction of a runway marker, but there were no injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the aerodynamic conditions at the aerodrome and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators examined the local topography, noting that a hill located north of the runway acts as a natural barrier, significantly affecting wind patterns. The investigation also assessed the operational status of the aerodrome's wind indicators.
Technical analysis of the aircraft revealed no engine or system malfunctions. The investigation also reviewed the runway dimensions, finding that the effective usable length was shorter than the 800 meters declared in the aerodrome's documentation. Furthermore, the investigation found that the windsock at runway 19 was positioned too close to tall trees, which could distort wind direction readings, and the windsock at runway 01 was too worn to be functional.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway due to a delayed takeoff abort maneuver.
- The decision to continue the takeoff after noticing an abnormal ground roll contributed to the loss of runway margin.
- The extended takeoff roll was likely caused by an increasing tailwind gradient during the takeoff run, a phenomenon induced by the local orography.
- The pilot's ability to detect these wind conditions was compromised by inadequate wind indicators; the windsock at the departure end was obscured by trees, and the windsock at the arrival end was in a state of disrepair.
- The aircraft's lateral deviation during the aborted stop was exacerbated by uneven braking caused by the aircraft's rightward tilt upon touchdown.