What happened
On 30 March 2012, a Thruster T600N aircraft, registration G-MGTV, was engaged in a private local flight from Tandragee Airstrip near Portadown. The flight was intended to include one passenger. While the weather forecast had predicted northerly winds of 5-10 kt, the pilot reported that conditions at the time of departure had become gusty, with an estimated wind speed of 10 kt.
To avoid obstacles located at the northern end of the airfield, the pilot opted to take off in a southerly direction. This decision meant the aircraft departed into an estimated 10 kt tailwind. Shortly after reaching an altitude of approximately 10 to 20 feet, the right wing dropped. Before any corrective action could be taken, the aircraft struck the ground. The impact caused the nosewheel to collapse and resulted in a cracked pod and windscreen. Both the pilot and the passenger evacuated the aircraft without injuries, and the engine continued to run following the impact.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's decision-making regarding takeoff direction and the impact of wind conditions on aircraft performance. The investigation noted that the Tandragee Airstrip is a north-south oriented field composed of crushed stone, featuring a downhill gradient toward the south.
Investigators reviewed the pilot's assessment, which suggested that the benefits of utilizing the downhill slope and avoiding northern obstacles were prioritized over the performance penalties of a tailwind. The pilot did not perform a calculation regarding the relative effects of these factors. The investigation established that the pilot believed insufficient airspeed at takeoff, exacerbated by the gusty conditions, led to a stall at an altitude too low to allow for effective recovery.