Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that after a normal takeoff and a standard traffic pattern, he executed a normal landing on a 5,000-foot long, 100-foot wide runway. As the airplane was rolling on the runway, he applied power to perform a touch-and-go. The airplane then veered left, causing the right wing to rise. In an attempt to stabilize the airplane, the pilot steered off the runway onto the grass. Once on the grass and running parallel to the runway, the pilot found that steering and braking were diminished and insufficient to avoid a taxi-way marker. The left side of the stabilator struck the marker, resulting in damage.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that the airplane's leftward veer and subsequent right wing lift required him to roll onto the grass. He wrote that once on the grass, control of steering and braking was diminished and insufficient to avoid the taxi-way marker, which indicated 2,000 feet remaining on the runway.
Passenger Statement
The certificated flight instructor, who was a passenger in the airplane, commented that he was looking out his window and not paying attention during the event.
Weather Conditions
Winds in the local area were recorded from the west-southwest at approximately 10 knots.