What happened
On 1 June 2000, a Piper PA-34-220T, registration G-BMNT, was performing a private flight from Oxford Airport to Newmarket Racecourse. After landing at the July landing strip to collect two passengers, the aircraft prepared for a subsequent flight to Southampton.
During the takeoff roll on the grass runway, witnesses observed the aircraft bouncing significantly. As the aircraft accelerated, the right propeller made contact with the ground, leaving visible marks on the runway. The aircraft became airborne but immediately entered a right-wing-low attitude, likely due to a combination of a significant left-to-right crosswind and the aircraft's flight attitude.
Shortly after lift-off, the right wingtip struck a 25-foot high embankment known as the 'Devil's Ditch'. This impact caused the aircraft to pitch violently nose-down and enter a cartwheel maneuver. The aircraft struck the ground with great force, causing the engines to detach and triggering an intense post-crash fire. While the two passengers managed to escape through a partially opened rear hatch, the pilot was unable to exit the wreckage and died in the accident. The two passengers sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the runway surface, noting distinct tire and propeller marks. The propeller strikes occurred at a groundspeed of approximately 79 knots. Analysis of the landing gear showed that all struts were extended and the gear was locked, ruling out a gear collapse as a cause.
Detailed strip-inspections of the McCauley propellers revealed that the ground strikes had caused significant damage to the pitch-change mechanisms. Specifically, it is believed that at least one blade on the right propeller became disconnected from its pitch-change link. This would have resulted in a severe loss of thrust on the right side due to the drag of a feathered blade and the subsequent fine-pitch movement of the remaining blades.
Engine inspections showed the right engine was internally undamaged and had no pre-impact mechanical failures. However, the investigation noted that the pilot's recent experience on this specific type was limited, having only flown the aircraft for a few days prior to the accident.