Incident Overview
A pilot, on his first attempt to take off from an airport after having landed there earlier in the day, aborted the takeoff when the airplane shuddered upon liftoff. The airplane then overran the runway and struck an occupied van. The van's occupants were not injured.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses reported that the pilot did not utilize the entire available runway during the takeoff attempt. Several local pilots had advised the pilot against using the runway, but the pilot disregarded their advice, citing his extensive flight experience.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that during the takeoff, as the airplane lifted off, it shuddered, prompting him to abort the takeoff. He acknowledged that he did not factor in the additional takeoff distance required when using an unpaved surface. Furthermore, he believed the runway was approximately 400 feet longer than its actual length.
Aftermath
The airplane overran the runway and collided with a van that was occupied at the time. No injuries were reported among the van's occupants. The pilot's actions and perceptions were documented in the investigation.