What happened
During a takeoff attempt, the pilot of the aircraft aborted the maneuver after experiencing a shudder upon liftoff. The aircraft subsequently overran the runway and collided with an occupied van. The occupants of the van were not injured.
This was the pilot's first takeoff from this airport, although he had landed at the facility earlier that same day. According to witnesses, the pilot did not utilize the full length of the available runway. Local pilots reported that they had advised the pilot against using the specific runway in question, but the pilot proceeded based on his extensive flight experience.
Findings
The investigation revealed two primary errors regarding the takeoff performance calculations. The pilot failed to account for the additional takeoff distance required when operating from an unpaved surface. Additionally, the pilot operated under the mistaken belief that the runway was approximately 400 feet longer than its actual length.