What happened
During a private flight near Vårgårda, an aircraft was attempting to depart from a field in Tumberg following a brief ground stop. This was the third flight operation of the day. The flight was carrying a total of five people, consisting of one pilot and four passengers.
Due to the presence of buildings and lamp posts obstructing the western path, the pilot elected to depart toward the east. Although trees were located at the eastern edge of the field, the pilot determined that the available runway length was sufficient for departure and that the obstacles were avoidable. No formal calculations were performed to verify the necessary takeoff distance for this maneuver.
As the pilot applied full takeoff power, engine parameters including manifold pressure and RPM appeared to be within normal ranges, and the aircraft's acceleration felt standard. However, upon reaching lift-off speed, the aircraft experienced a right-hand roll and failed to achieve the intended climb rate. In an attempt to clear the eastern treeline, the pilot applied significant back pressure on the control yoke. Despite this effort, the aircraft could not clear the obstacles and struck the trees.
Findings
- The pilot did not perform precise calculations to determine the required takeoff distance for the eastward departure.
- The aircraft experienced a roll to the right immediately following lift-off, hindering the climb.
- The collision resulted in zero fatalities or injuries, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.