What happened
On August 15, 2019, at approximately 16:00, a Piper PA-18-150, registration TF-KAY, was performing a private flight from Svefneyjar in Breiðafjörður. The aircraft, carrying two occupants, was attempting to depart from a grass runway. During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full power and set the flaps to 10 degrees.
As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 20-25 miles per hour, a significant wind gust impacted the right wing, causing the aircraft to lift and veer to the left. At this stage of the takeoff, the runway was narrowing to a width of only 8-9 meters. The pilot reported losing effective directional control, causing the left main gear to depart the runway surface. The aircraft subsequently veered off the airfield and came to rest upside down in the shoreline area, approximately 80 meters from the end of the runway. There were no fatalities and no injuries, though the aircraft sustained considerable damage.
The investigation
The RNSA investigation examined the runway conditions, weather data, and aircraft controls. The investigation established that the runway at Svef_neyjar is relatively short (170-190 meters) and narrows significantly toward the southwest end.
Meteorological data from the Icelandic Meteorological Office confirmed that at the time of the accident, winds were from the east-northeast at 20-24 knots. Based on the runway heading of approximately 32 degrees, the investigation calculated a crosswind component of 13-14 knots, which could increase to 15-17 knots in higher wind speeds. The investigation also verified that the aircraft's flight controls were fully functional and operating normally prior to the excursion.