What happened
The student pilot, who held a valid rating, along with his flight instructor, successfully landed on an unimproved private airstrip situated at an elevation of approximately 4750 feet mean sea level. Following the landing, both pilots exited the aircraft to inspect the strip's condition. They noted tall grass lining the right side and three bushes on the left. Additionally, a ditch was located about 800 feet from the approach end, with four dogs and three horses present in the vicinity.
Deciding to angle slightly across the runway during takeoff to avoid obstacles, the pilots initially expressed concern regarding the animals' positions. As the takeoff roll commenced, the student pilot angled further to the left than the instructor had anticipated. This deviation caused the left wing to strike a bush, forcing the aircraft to veer sharply to the left. The instructor was unable to regain control before the plane collided with two additional bushes.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. The decision to operate from an unimproved strip with known obstacles, combined with the unexpected leftward deviation, resulted in the aircraft striking vegetation and sustaining damage.