Incident Overview
According to the pilot, he was conducting a night flight and was about to lift off during the takeoff run when an object appeared to the right of the aircraft's nose. In response, he applied maximum back pressure to avoid the object and subsequently felt a thud on the underside of the aircraft. The pilot then focused on maintaining flight, checked the flight controls—which all functioned properly—and flew around the airport to inspect the runway surface for any object. Seeing nothing, he proceeded to his destination. Upon arrival, the pilot was notified that he had struck a pedestrian.
Pilot Actions
The pilot's immediate actions included applying full back pressure on the controls to avoid the perceived object. After feeling the impact, he prioritized keeping the aircraft airborne and verified that the flight controls were operational. He then conducted a visual inspection of the runway from the air but did not observe any debris or object on the surface. Believing the runway to be clear, he continued the flight as planned.
Aftermath
It was only after landing at his destination that the pilot learned the nature of the object he had encountered. The pedestal was not visible on the runway during his aerial check, and no further details about the pedestrian's condition or the extent of damage to the aircraft were provided in the pilot's account.