Accident Overview
A solo student pilot was conducting a takeoff in a Piper PA-28-161 on runway 29L, which is 7,314 feet long and 100 feet wide, surfaced with asphalt. As the airplane accelerated to an airspeed of 55 knots, the student pilot felt the right wing "drop toward the runway." The airplane then pivoted to the left and departed the runway into the grass.
Impact and Damage
During the off-runway excursion, the right wing and the right side of the nose section struck a taxiway sign. The impact caused the right main landing gear assembly to separate from the aircraft, which in turn damaged an adjacent wing rib.
Previous Flight and Pilot Reports
The student pilot and an instructor had flown the same airplane on the preceding flight, during which they practiced takeoffs and landings. They reported no anomalies with the airplane during that flight. The student pilot also reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane during the accident flight.
Weather Conditions
The reported wind at the airport around the time of the accident was from 260 degrees at 9 knots.