What happened
On 19 February 2010, a Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow, registration G-CSWH, was performing a training flight from Abbots Bromley. The aircraft was attempting to depart from Runway 22, a grass strip measuring 680 metres in length that features an upslope on either side of the centreline. At the time of the incident, the runway surface was covered with a thin layer of snow, approximately 1 to 2 cm deep, following a recent shower.
During the takeoff roll, the initial acceleration of the aircraft appeared normal. The aircraft achieved lift-off roughly halfway down the runway. Following rotation, the aircraft drifted to the left, a movement the pilot corrected. However, the aircraft subsequently touched down twice on the ascending portion of the runway. The aircraft was unable to maintain a climb, eventually striking two hedges before coming to a stop in a nearby field. The impact caused the right wing to detach and damaged the undercarriage. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the environmental conditions and the pilot's observations regarding the airfield. The pilot noted that the airfield's black windsock was difficult to identify during the takeoff. Following the accident, the pilot observed that the wind direction appeared to have shifted, potentially due to the recent rainfall. The pilot also considered that the presence of snow on the runway surface might have created additional drag, thereby hindering the aircraft's acceleration.
Furthermore, the pilot noted that the aircraft was not equipped with brake pedals for the right-hand seat. The investigation established that the aircraft's inability to climb was the primary factor in the undershoot.