PA-28 Student Pilot reported losing directional control of the aircraft on takeoff roll; rejected the takeoff; and proceeded to go off the runway and into the grass. The underside of the left wing; where the pitot mast is located; had struck an airport sign.

Date: 2023-04 · Aircraft: PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior · Phase: takeoff

Anomalies: ground-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control|ground-event-encounter-object|ground-excursion-runway

Synopsis

PA-28 Student Pilot reported losing directional control of the aircraft on takeoff roll; rejected the takeoff; and proceeded to go off the runway and into the grass. The underside of the left wing; where the pitot mast is located; had struck an airport sign.

Narrative

On the day in question I was in the middle of my second solo flight of the day. In the morning before the incident; I had completed a warm-up flight with my instructor. The warm-up flight consisted of taxi; run-up; 2 successful takeoffs and landings; and 1 required go-around. After this warm-up flight I completed my first solo flight. This flight consisted of 3 successful takeoffs and landings solo. After a 2-hour break I returned to the airport for my second solo flight. Before this flight we completed another warm-up flight with my instructor. The conditions for the day were winds calm and sky clear. Before the incident in my 2nd solo flight I had completed 3 takeoffs and landings successfully. I also had ATC declare a go-around; which I completed successfully and was told by ATC that I handled it properly.On the takeoff in which the incident occurred; I went through my checklist and called for clearance. Once it was approved I entered the runway; double-checking myself on the checklist; and put myself on centerline. I then applied full power and right rudder as I do for every takeoff. About halfway to the thousand footers; my plane started to go slight left of centerline but I was not off centerline yet. I applied more right rudder but the plane took a sharp left. I came quick to realize that the plane was not going to recover and I cut the throttle to idle and started applying the brakes. I called to ATC to let them know I was going off the runway and I was rejecting takeoff. The plane then continued to make the left turn until I had gone off the runway and into the grass. I called ATC to let them know I had gone off the runway and also that I was okay. ATC told me to try to move the plane forward a bit which I did; and then I shut down and terminated. I followed my shutdown terminate checklist. I left the battery on to remain on frequency with Tower as this was a first time thing for me and I did not want to exit the plane unless I was told otherwise. They let me know that a car would be on its way to tow the plane. When the car pulled up for a tow I exited the aircraft to examine the damage. The underside of the left wing had struck the thousand footer sign where the pitot mast is located on the left wing.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.