What happened
On 19 November 2000, a Taylor Titch, registration G-VIVI, was preparing for a private departure from Nayland Airfield in Essex. The conditions at the time featured good visibility and a light surface wind of 220°/10 kt, though the grass runway surface was notably wet.
Following standard pre-flight procedures and a thorough engine warm-up, the pilot commenced the takeoff roll on Runway 14. As power was applied, the aircraft began to slew toward the left. In an attempt to maintain the centerline, the pilot applied right rudder; however, this resulted in an overcorrection that necessitated subsequent left rudder input to manage the heading. During this period of directional instability, the aircraft skidded off the runway into a patch of long grass. The aircraft continued its path toward a steep drop-off near a line of trees. Despite reducing power, the pilot could not recover the heading, and the aircraft struck the trees, coming to rest on its nose. The pilot, who was wearing a secured shoulder harness, escaped the wreckage without injury.
The investigation
The investigation, prompted by the pilot's accident report, focused on the sequence of events during the takeoff roll and the environmental conditions at the airfield. Investigators examined the aircraft's movement on the wet grass surface and the pilot's control inputs. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained wing damage during the excursion.