What happened
On 29 October 2006, a PZL-104 Wilga 80, registration G-WLGA, was performing a private flight from Lingcroft Farm, Ullock, towards Carlisle. The flight began with routine checks and taxiing across the field to the start of Runway 05. While the takeoff roll initially proceeded with normal acceleration, the aircraft encountered difficulty as it reached rotation speed. The left front wheel sank into a soft, wet section of the grass runway, causing the aircraft to decelerable rapidly and veer left.
Despite efforts by the pilot to maintain the centerline, the aircraft left the runway surface. It briefly became airborne over low-lying ground before impacting the earth. The aircraft then struck the far bank of a stream running parallel to the runway, which caused the plane to pitch forward and come to rest in an inverted position. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger, both of whom were able to exit through the doors using their safety harnesses.
The investigation
The investigation examined the condition of the farm strip and the sequence of the takeoff. Although the weather on the day was dry with good visibility, the area had recently experienced heavy and prolonged rainfall. While the drainage system appeared functional, as evidenced by a successful flight from the opposite direction the previous week, the runway surface contained patches of soft ground. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's pre-flight preparations and the physical damage to the aircraft, which included impacts to the propeller, engine cowl, cockpit frame, windshield, and the left main landing gear.