Incident Overview
During an instructional flight, a student pilot was handling the controls for a soft-field takeoff. The student did not keep the aircraft aligned with the runway centerline, even after the instructor advised applying right rudder to correct a left drift. Just before lift-off, the instructor added right rudder, but the aircraft veered sharply to the right. The instructor then took over control but was unable to keep the aircraft on the runway.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft became airborne briefly but then touched down on the left main landing gear approximately six feet from the edge of the runway. It traveled about 80 feet while airborne before the right main landing gear struck a taxiway sign, shearing the gear off. The instructor subsequently landed the aircraft on the runway.
Taxiway Sign Location
The taxiway sign that was struck was located approximately eight feet from the edge of the runway. Advisory Circular AC 150/5340-18B, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, specifies that information signs should be placed ten feet from the runway edge.