Incident Narrative
A student pilot, flying solo on a cross-country flight, was nearing the conclusion of the journey and returning to the home airport. The pilot reported that the takeoff roll utilized the complete length of the available runway. During this takeoff, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and collided with a cement block.
Runway and Ground Marks
Subsequent examination by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the tire tracks left the runway surface on the opposite side of an intersecting taxiway. This departure point was approximately 1,600 feet from the start of the runway. The initial departure angle of the tire tracks was estimated to be between 20 and 30 degrees relative to the runway centerline. As the airplane continued, the tracks gradually aligned to become parallel with the runway before the airplane struck the cement block. The segment of tire tracks visible in the grass measured approximately 65 feet in length. The cement block was situated about 25 feet to the side of the runway edge.
Performance Reference
The aircraft's owner's manual indicated that the airplane required approximately 630 feet of runway to become airborne under normal conditions.