Incident Overview
During a private pilot's first solo flight in an airplane, the main cabin door "popped open" at approximately 60 knots during the takeoff roll. Believing sufficient runway remained to stop, the pilot reduced engine power to idle and applied "maximum braking." Despite these actions, the airplane overran the runway surface and came to rest in a creek about 72 feet past the end of the runway.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that the braking action available was "insufficient" to stop the airplane within the remaining runway distance.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector conducted a postaccident examination, including an inspection and functional check of the brakes, which revealed no anomalies. The inspector also observed skid marks measuring 501 feet in length before the end of the runway. Both the left and right wings sustained substantial damage.