Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain pitch and directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident, was the student pilot’s delay in relinquishing control of the airplane and the instructor's delayed reaction before the loss of directional control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The check instructor reported that during a soft field takeoff for an end-of-course test, the student pilot did not correct for an increasing nose up attitude and struck the tail on the runway surface. The student was then instructed to abort the take-off several times, to which the student did not immediately respond. During the abort, the student pilot lost directional control and the instructor took control of the airplane. However, the instructor reported that he was unable to regain full control before the airplane left the runway surface. The airplane struck a runway sign which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.