What happened
On 14 March 1999, a Mooney M20C, registration N7133J, was involved in a runway excursion during a private flight at Cardinham (Bodmin) Airfield in Cornwall. The pilot intended to depart from the grass Runway 32, which featured a slight up-slope and an available takeoff distance of 610 metres. At the time of the incident, the surface was damp and the wind was recorded at 05 knots from 210°.
The aircraft was operating at 96 kg below its maximum takeoff weight. Before beginning the takeoff roll, the pilot decided to bypass the first 20 metres of the runway due to concerns regarding the surface condition. During the subsequent takeoff, the aircraft experienced slow initial acceleration. After lifting off from the grass, the aircraft was unable to accelerate sufficiently to allow the pilot to establish a climb. Consequently, the aircraft continued along the ground and struck a large area of bushes located immediately after the runway end. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the propeller and the main landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the takeoff performance and the pilot's decision-making regarding the runway conditions. The investigation established that the pilot had not performed specific takeoff performance calculations prior to the flight, relying instead on previous experience to determine that the available runway length would be sufficient for the departure.