What happened
On 13 October 2005, a Reims Cessna F152, registration G-BHNA, was preparing for a local flight from Breighton Airfield in Yorkshire. The weather was reported as good with broken cloud at approximately 2,500 ft, though the surface wind was shifting between 360º and 040º at 7 to 8 kt.
During the takeoff roll on the grass runway, the pilot attempted to compensate for the wind direction by applying aileron and right rudder. As the aircraft gained speed and began to lift off, a sudden gust of wind caused the aircraft to yaw to the left. This movement resulted in the aircraft touching down again on the runway. In the attempt to regain control, the pilot closed the throttle, but before braking could be applied, the aircraft drifted off the side of the runway and entered a ploughed field. The nose of the aircraft pitched downward, causing the plane to flip and come to rest upside down. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, both of whom evacuated the wreckage without assistance.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the takeoff roll and the impact of the prevailing wind conditions. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the event.