Incident Overview
The pilot reported that during departure from a 3,000-foot runway with a lake at the end, upon reaching liftoff airspeed, the yoke would not come back when pulled. The main wheels then raised off the runway, and the pilot elected to continue as there was not enough runway remaining to abort the takeoff. The airplane flew over the lake, skipping on the surface several times, and impacted onto the opposite shoreline.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector and a mechanic confirmed control continuity. The airplane's cockpit panel had received extensive damage, and evidence of binding could not be determined. Examination of the airplane's logbook revealed that the yoke assembly had been switched several times over the past few years.
Investigation Findings
The investigation did not identify a specific cause for the yoke control difficulty. The control continuity was verified, but the damage to the cockpit panel prevented a conclusive assessment of binding in the control system. The logbook entries indicated multiple changes to the yoke assembly, but no direct link to the incident was established.
Conclusion
No probable cause was determined for the yoke control issue during the departure. The sequence of events, including the decision to continue the takeoff and the subsequent impact with the opposite shoreline, were documented based on the pilot's account and post-accident examinations.