What happened
On 11 January 1998, a Rans S6-ESD, registration G-MYPJ, was conducting a private recreational flight at RAF Boulmer, Northumbria. After landing on a grass manoeuvring area, the pilot noted that recent rainfall had left certain patches of the ground soft and some areas with longer grass. To ensure a safer departure, the pilot selected a southerly heading along the eastern boundary, choosing a 400-metre strip of ground that appeared firmer.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced slower acceleration than anticipated due to the soft surface. In an effort to relieve pressure on the landing gear, the pilot applied back pressure on the stick at approximately 43 mph, before the aircraft had reached the section of the runway with longer grass. The aircraft became airborne, and the pilot maintained a low altitude to accelerate within ground effect. However, the airspeed had only reached 50 mph by the time the aircraft approached the southern boundary fence. To clear the obstacle, the pilot pulled back on the stick, causing the airspeed to decay. The aircraft likely stalled just before the left wing impacted the top of the fence, resulting in a cartwheel motion that ended in a nearby farmer's field.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inspection of the wreckage revealed damage to the propeller, landing gear, and wing, along with fire damage to the engine. There were no injuries to the two occupants, though the engine compartment ignited during the accident, requiring intervention from RAF personnel to extinguish the flames.
Findings
- The pilot failed to account for the increased drag on the landing gear caused by the soft ground during the initial takeoff roll.
- An early attempt to unload the landing gear led to insufficient airspeed for the subsequent climb.
- The aircraft experienced a stall while attempting to clear the boundary fence due to decaying airspeed.