Accident Sequence
During a touch-and-go landing roll, the solo student pilot reduced the throttle to idle. He then attempted to retract the flaps but reported that he could have moved the flaps to the down position instead. He also turned off the carburetor heat. As the airplane began its departure roll, prior to rotation, it veered to the left. The pilot applied opposite rudder, but the aircraft subsequently impacted a taxiway sign. The nose landing gear separated from the firewall, and the airplane exited the runway to the left, coming to rest upright in a field adjacent to the runway.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he was not familiar with the airplane's flap system. He further reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall structural plate and the lower firewall flange.