Incident Overview
According to a written statement submitted by the pilot, the accident occurred during the departure roll when the airplane reached 70 miles per hour. The pilot reported that she had not conducted a control check prior to initiating takeoff. As the airplane accelerated, she realized that the gust lock was still installed. She attempted to remove the gust lock but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, she reduced the throttle in an effort to stop the airplane.
Sequence of Events
The airplane continued beyond the end of the runway and entered a dirt field, where it came to rest. During the excursion, the nose gear separated from the aircraft. The airplane sustained substantial damage, specifically to the firewall and the right wing.
Damage Assessment
Post-accident examination revealed that the firewall and right wing were substantially damaged. The extent of damage to other components was not specified in the pilot's statement.
Pilot Actions
The pilot's statement indicated that no control check was performed before takeoff. The gust lock was identified as being installed during the rollout when the aircraft had already reached 70 mph. The pilot's attempts to remove the gust lock did not succeed, and throttle reduction was insufficient to stop the aircraft within the runway confines.