What happened
On August 22, 1985, N7338F, a Cessna 172N, was involved in an incident during the takeoff phase at Turlock, California. Visual meteorological conditions were present at the time of the event. The aircraft sustained substantial damage after colliding with a three-foot tall pole.
The pilot reported that he believed he was positioned on the runway when initiating the takeoff roll. In reality, the aircraft was located between the taxiway and the runway. As the pilot began the takeoff procedure, the aircraft struck the pole, prompting an immediate abort of the takeoff. The pilot and his two passengers were not injured in the incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the discrepancy between the pilot's perception of his location and his actual position relative to the runway infrastructure. The pilot stated that he was on the runway when, in fact, he was between the taxiway and the runway. This positional error led directly to the collision with the fixed object.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this incident was the pilot's misjudgment of his position on the airfield. By initiating a takeoff roll from an incorrect location—specifically between the taxiway and the runway—the aircraft encountered an obstacle that would not have been present had the takeoff commenced from the designated runway surface. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft, but no injuries were reported among the occupants.