Background
The pilot and his wife made several attempts to take off but aborted each one. Airport personnel reported that when the pilot came into the office, he appeared thoroughly shaken by the experience. He told employees he would not take off from the airport until runway construction had been completed and the entire length of the runway was made available. He also told a mechanic that there was a shimmy in the nose wheel steering.
Maintenance and Delivery Attempts
The pilot contracted with a local flight instructor to deliver the airplane after repairs had been made. Delivery was postponed on three different occasions over a period of two months when discrepancies were discovered: the right fuel tank leaked and the VOR receivers did not work; instead of being mounted on the windshield center post, the magnetic compass dangled by a few wires underneath the instrument panel; the airspeed indicator was twisted about 60 degrees in the instrument panel; the fuel cap O-rings were "severely cracked and worn"; the communication radios stopped working; the battery required charging; and the airplane required a jump-start. There were numerous 9-volt and AA batteries on the rear floor and in the door pockets.
Decision to Ferry
The flight instructor elected not to deliver the airplane. The pilot elected to ferry the airplane home.
Accident Sequence
During the takeoff roll, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and skipped across the ground before striking a 600-pound concrete block and coming to rest inverted. A post-impact fire ensued.
Runway Conditions
The 9,000-foot runway was undergoing reconstruction and only 3,900 feet was available. An additional 600-foot displaced threshold was available for takeoffs. The usable portion of runway was rough and uneven.