What happened
On March 19, 2015, a COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNA P92 EAGLET, registration N731HG, was performing a soft field takeoff during an intermediate stop of a cross-country flight in Cambridge, Maryland. During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full power and moved the flight controls to the full aft position. This caused the nose to pitch up, obscuring the pilot's forward vision and causing the aircraft to drift to the left.
As the takeoff roll proceeded, the pilot lost directional control, and the aircraft departed the left side of the runway. The airplane rolled into a ditch, where the propeller struck the ground. The accident resulted in no injuries, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were calm with visual meteorological conditions and 10 statute mile visibility.