What happened
During the takeoff roll, the pilot initiated an abort due to an inoperative airspeed indicator that was reading zero miles per hour. As the aircraft decelerated, it swerved off the left side of the runway. The out-of-control excursion caused the aircraft to cross a ditch, resulting in damage to the left wing and the main landing gear.
The investigation
Post-accident examination determined that a clogged pilot tube was responsible for the zero airspeed indication. Investigators also assessed the ground handling characteristics of the aircraft during the incident. They concluded that steering and brake action were normal, indicating that mechanical failure or loss of control inputs did not contribute to the swerve.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the inoperative airspeed indicator. The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff was a direct response to this instrument failure. While the swerve occurred during the high-speed deceleration phase, the investigation found that the aircraft's steering and braking systems functioned as expected. The damage sustained was consistent with an off-runway excursion into terrain rather than a structural failure of the landing gear or wing prior to contact.