Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during takeoff from a gravel runway, only the left side of the runway was used because it was '...in a little better condition' than the right half. The right side of the runway was described as very wet and soft due to melting winter snow. However, wet spots on the left side had prompted the relocation of some left edge cone markers closer to the runway center, further narrowing the available takeoff area.
Sequence of Events
As the airplane lifted off, it weathervaned due to a crosswind. During this maneuver, the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator collided with a 3-foot-high rubber cone marker positioned along the runway edge. The runway had been reopened on April 27 after being closed for 10 days because of the melting snow conditions.
Contributing Circumstances
The pilot's decision to use only the left side of the runway, combined with the repositioned cone markers and the crosswind, created a situation where the aircraft's left tail surfaces made contact with the runway edge marker. The incident highlights the challenges posed by runway surface conditions during seasonal snowmelt.