Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing factors were the fence and trees.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the takeoff roll, the student pilot pulled back on the yoke to raise the nose wheel off the runway. He reported that "as the nose rose, I lost visual on the runway." The student pilot thought the main landing gear tires had lifted off the runway and he lowered the nose to increase speed in ground effect. He then realized the airplane had drifted off the right side of the runway. The airplane struck a fence and trees, and came to rest upright in a field.
Source record
Factual narrative
According to the student pilot, he was practicing a soft-field takeoff on runway 35. During the takeoff roll, he pulled back on the yoke to raise the nose wheel off the runway. He reported that "as the nose rose, I lost visual on the runway." The student pilot thought the main landing gear tires had lifted off the runway and he lowered the nose to increase speed in ground effect. He then realized the airplane had drifted off the right side of the runway. The airplane impacted a fence and trees, and came to rest upright in a grass field. The student pilot reported the wind was from the east at 5 knots. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. He stated he had accumulated 43.5 total flight hours. An examination of the airplane showed that the horizontal stabilizer was partially separated from the fuselage, and fuselage was buckled.