What happened
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft reached approximately 117 knots when it began to vibrate violently and pull sharply to the left. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff, but the aircraft continued off the left side of the runway before coming to rest against a small embankment. Examination of the runway surface revealed tire markings leading directly to the final resting position of the aircraft. These markings were consistent with those produced by a tire failure.
The investigation
Physical inspection confirmed damage to the left main gear, the wheel assembly, the underside of the fuselage, and the left tip tank. Investigators examined the left brake and wheel assembly for signs of mechanical malfunction or failure prior to the incident. No evidence was found to indicate any pre-existing defect in these components. The failed tire, a Goodyear part number 249K83-2 with serial number 22041595, had accumulated 98 flight cycles before the accident.
Findings
The sudden loss of directional control was directly caused by the tire failure on the left main landing gear. The lack of prior mechanical issues in the brake and wheel assembly suggests the tire failure was not preceded by detectable component degradation.