What happened
On 18 April 2000, a Piper PA-3-112, registration G-BKAR, was involved in a crash landing east of Teesside Airport. The aircraft was being used in a private capacity to recover itself from a field where it had been forced to land two days earlier due to engine power loss. Following a maintenance check that addressed suspected fuel contamination, the pilot attempted to fly the aircraft from the recovery field back to its home base.
The pilot planned a takeoff run diagonally across the field, aiming for a gap in a hedgerow to provide an overrun area. After completing necessary checks and performing power tests, the pilot began the takeoff roll using the first stage of flaps. The aircraft became airborne after approximately 250 metres, but shortly after lift-off, the aircraft touched down again. At this moment, the pilot noticed a reduction in engine power. Realising there was insufficient distance to remain in the primary takeoff field, the pilot attempted to land in the adjacent overrun area. However, due to the low airspeed, the aircraft became difficult to manage; the left wing struck a post located within the hedgerow, causing the aircraft to crash land. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. While a previous inspection had identified and cleared microbiological contamination in the carburettor fuel bowl, a subsequent examination of the carburettor following the accident showed no further signs of contamination.
Analysis of the meteorological data revealed that the temperature was +6°C with a dew point of +2°C. These conditions indicated a high probability of carburettor icing occurring at any power setting. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the takeoff performance requirements. While the pilot's estimated ground roll was 250 metres, calculations based on the aircraft's handbook and safety guidelines for grass surfaces suggested that the required distance to clear obstacles would be significantly higher than the available space, especially if the surface was soft.