What happened
On 31 May 2009, at approximately 17:50 UTC, a Pegasus Quik, registration G-CDAX, was performing a private flight from Popham Airfield, Hampshire. The aircraft was utilizing Runway 03, which featured a 15-knot wind component acting down the runway.
As the aircraft reached what the pilot perceived to be the point of liftoff, the aircraft began to yaw toward the right. In an attempt to correct the deviation and return to the original heading, the pilot applied control inputs that caused the aircraft to roll onto its right side. The aircraft then slid along the runway surface before coming to a halt. The incident resulted in no injuries to the pilot, and no fire occurred following the excursion.
The investigation
Investigators analyzed the damage sustained by the aircraft, which included impacts to the control frame, the wing keel, and the leading edge of the right wing. The investigation also included an examination of the ground marks left by the aircraft's wheels on the runway surface.
Findings
Based on the physical evidence and the pilot's assessment, the investigation established that the right main wheel had remained in contact with the runway surface at the moment the pilot believed the aircraft had become airborne. This contact caused the initial rightward yaw and the subsequent loss of directional control.