What happened
During the ground roll for takeoff, the aircraft accelerated to approximately 95 knots. At this speed, the pilot attempted to rotate by pulling back on the control wheel to initiate lift-off. However, the pilot reported that the control wheel would not move rearward more than about two inches, which was significantly less than half of the normal full aft travel range. The aircraft continued to accelerate, reaching a speed of roughly 105 knots and covering more than half of the runway length before the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. Despite these efforts, the pilot was unable to bring the aircraft to a stop on the remaining pavement. The aircraft exited the runway environment and subsequently collided with an occupied car located on a nearby street.
The investigation
A physical examination of the aircraft revealed the mechanical cause of the control restriction. The left-side VOR indicator had become detached from its mounting clamp on the instrument panel. This loose unit was found resting against the control wheel tube, positioned behind the instrument panel. This obstruction physically limited the control wheel to only 2.5 inches of rearward travel, directly preventing the pilot from achieving the necessary elevator deflection for rotation.
Findings
The pilot stated that he had removed the control lock prior to engine start and performed a flight control check before beginning the takeoff roll. Despite these pre-flight procedures, the loose instrument panel component remained undetected and restricted the control surface movement during the critical phase of flight.