Incident
According to the pilot's report, the intended departure runway was parallel to the taxiway and parking ramp. The pilot assumed that after making two right turns, he would be on the runway. However, he did not have any airport diagrams to navigate while operating on the airport movement area.
After the second right turn, the pilot noticed a runway sign and announced his intention to depart over the common traffic advisory frequency. He taxied onto what he believed was the runway, observed "faded yellow chevrons," and added power for takeoff.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot observed that he was crossing the runway he assumed he was on, and the paved surface he was on was ending. He retarded the throttle and applied brakes. The airplane exited the paved surface and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. This resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, and vertical stabilizer.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported no mechanical abnormalities or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The airport diagram and the pilot's own drawing of the accident event revealed that three right turns were needed prior to being on the runway, not the two the pilot had executed.
Investigation Findings
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who traveled to the accident location stated that the runway was "clearly identifiable" and the markings were visible. The pilot's assumption and lack of an airport diagram were noted as contributing circumstances, but the source explicitly states no analysis regarding cause.