Incident Overview
An aircraft veered off the runway and collided with a ditch following an aborted takeoff. The pilot reported that he decided to abort the takeoff approximately halfway down the runway after failing to obtain an airspeed indication sufficient for takeoff. He cut the power and lowered the nose wheel, but the aircraft swerved off the left side of the runway and struck a ditch.
Post-Event Discovery
After the incident, the pilot observed that the pitot cover was still on the pitot tube. The presence of the cover likely prevented the pitot system from measuring airspeed, leading to the lack of airspeed indication during the takeoff roll.
Sequence of Events
The pilot initiated the takeoff but noticed that the airspeed indicator was not showing a reading adequate for takeoff. As the aircraft continued down the runway, he made the decision to abort the takeoff. After reducing power and lowering the nose wheel, the aircraft began to veer to the left. It departed the paved surface and entered a ditch, where it came to a stop.
No Other Details
The accident report does not specify the aircraft type, registration, operator, location, date, time of day, weather conditions, number of occupants, or any injuries or damage. No air traffic control involvement was mentioned.