Incident
On 27 March 2017 at 13:50 local time, a Mooney M20J, registered as HB-DIA, was departing from Speck-Fehraltorf airfield (LSZK) for St. Gallen-Altenrhein (LSZR) under visual flight rules. During the takeoff roll on runway 30, the pilot initiated a rejected takeoff because the aircraft was not lifting off as expected. The aircraft overran the end of the runway. After bringing the aircraft to a stop, the pilot observed that the speed brakes had been deployed during the takeoff roll.
Aircraft and Pilot
The aircraft was a Mooney M20J, owned and operated by Smartlife GmbH of Rapperswil-Jona. The pilot, a Swiss national born in 1968, held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (BAZL) in accordance with EASA standards. He had accumulated 1070 total flight hours, including 5 hours and 28 minutes in the previous 90 days and 129 hours on the aircraft type, with 31 minutes on type in the last 90 days.
Injuries and Damage
There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger. The aircraft sustained no damage, and no third-party damage occurred.
Investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) conducted a summary investigation in accordance with Article 46 of the Swiss Ordinance on the Safety Investigation of Transport Incidents. The investigation noted that after the rejected takeoff, the pilot discovered that the speed brakes had been extended during the takeoff roll. No probable cause was stated in the report.