What happened
During the takeoff roll from the midpoint of an incorrect runway, the pilot recognized that the remaining distance was insufficient for a safe departure. In response to this realization, he rotated the aircraft prematurely, achieving a climb to approximately 10 feet above ground level. The aircraft failed to gain altitude and did not climb as expected. Consequently, the pilot aborted the takeoff and applied heavy braking. This action caused the aircraft to groundloop and run off the end of the runway, resulting in substantial damage.
The investigation
The physical examination of the aircraft confirmed that it sustained substantial damage due to the departure from the runway environment. No further mechanical anomalies were cited in the immediate narrative beyond the outcome of the aborted maneuver.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this incident were the pilot's decision to utilize an incorrect runway for takeoff and the subsequent need to abort the maneuver at a low altitude. The late realization of the error necessitated an early rotation and heavy braking, which led to the loss of directional control and the groundloop event.