Accident Summary
An airplane was unable to get airborne during its takeoff roll, according to an FAA inspector. The aircraft traveled the full length of a 4,997-foot runway before running off the departure end of runway 5. It continued approximately 2,257 feet beyond the runway, passing through an open field, a fence, and a corn field, and then entered a depression where it impacted terrain and came to rest.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he discovered he had not removed the gust lock from the control column. He stated that his attempts to remove the lock were unsuccessful. The pilot said the aircraft "went off the end of the runway through a fence and impacted an earthen berm that collapsed the gear [and] blade strikes that stopped the engines."
Probable Cause
The official probable cause is the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, his failure to remove the control lock, and his failure to abort the takeoff.