What happened
On 6 June 2004, a Renegade Spirit UK, registration G-MVZP, was performing a private flight from the grass runway at Chatteris Airfield. Following two circuits flown by a companion pilot, the commander attempted a takeoff from Runway 29. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft drifted toward the right side of the runway. The pilot reported a sensation of deceleration while maintaining full engine power and a climb attitude. Shortly after this, the aircraft appeared to accelerate before entering a ground loop to the right. The aircraft subsequently struck three-foot-high grass at the runway edge. The impact caused damage to the propeller, landing gear, and wings, and the engine ceased operation. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, and no fire occurred.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft's lower wing clearance from the ground is less than the height of the grass bordering the runway. The pilot's assessment revealed that the initial deceleration was caused by the right lower wing making contact with the tall grass as the aircraft deviated from the centerline. The subsequent brief acceleration occurred when the wing moved into a clearer area at the intersection of Runway 29 and Runway 19, before the aircraft looped back into the long grass. The pilot noted that the sun's position obscured visual cues, making it difficult to monitor the aircraft's position relative to the left runway boundary.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the lower wing contacting tall grass due to the aircraft drifting right of the runway centerline.
- The pilot's ability to maintain visual references was compromised by the sun being in his eyes.
- The pilot experienced fatigue due to an early start and inadequate nutrition during the day.
- The pilot initially misidentified the deceleration caused by the grass contact as an engine failure, leading him to maintain a climb attitude rather than steering left to avoid the vegetation.