What happened
On 26 April 1999, a Replica War P-47, registration G-BTBI, was conducting a flight test at Carlisle Airport in Cumbria. The purpose of the flight was to facilitate the renewal of the aircraft's Permit to Fly. The flight was a private operation, and the aircraft was operated by a single pilot.
During the takeoff roll on the paved Runway 07, the aircraft encountered a wind from 070° at 18 knots. The aircraft became airborne earlier than anticipated, reaching an altitude of approximately 20 feet. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft entered a left turn and subsequently stalled. The aircraft impacted the grass area located on the left side of the runway. Following the impact, the landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to ground loop. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, undercarriage, and the engine was shock loaded.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the circumstances of the takeoff and the flight path of the Replica War P-47. The pilot's experience was noted, though it was established that the pilot had no previous experience on this specific type of aircraft.