Incident Overview
During the takeoff roll, as the airplane reached rotation speed, the student pilot removed his feet from the rudder pedals. This caused the airplane to drift left of the runway centerline. The student quickly returned his feet to the pedals and applied the right brake, resulting in a sharp veer to the right.
Loss of Directional Control
The flight instructor, who did not have brakes on his side, applied left rudder in an attempt to correct the direction. However, the airplane departed the right side of the runway.
Runway Excursion and Abort
During the runway excursion, the tail was heard dragging on the ground or striking bushes. The airplane then aligned with the runway, but the instructor, concerned about potential damage to the tail, aborted the takeoff and landed on the side of the runway. During this maneuver, the airplane struck large mounds of dirt and a ditch.
Damage Assessment
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Instructor's Report
The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.