Incident Details
During the takeoff ground run, at 95 mph, the pilot heard excessive wind noise. Upon initiating rotation, a vibration was felt. The takeoff was aborted, and the aircraft ran off the end of the runway. The pilot reported that the brakes faded during the last 100 feet of travel.
Preflight and Inspection
The pilot had flown the aircraft the day prior on his biennial flight review and conducted a thorough preflight inspection. On the day of the accident, he preflighted the aircraft again and flew it without incident. After refueling, the aircraft was left unattended for approximately 90 minutes. Upon returning, the pilot performed a visual walk-around before entering the aircraft.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed an inspection panel hanging from the right horizontal stabilizer. The panel was secured by only one screw; another screw was in the nut plate but not through the panel. The operator's manual requires an exterior inspection prior to starting the engines.
Performance Data
The accelerate-stop distance for the aircraft was approximately 2,600 feet. The runway length at the airport is 3,121 feet.