Piper PA-28-161 N268ML accident near Goodyear, Arizona

Probable cause

The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot had been performing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the accident landing, the pilot reported touching down left of centerline. He corrected back to runway centerline and reconfigured the airplane for takeoff. As he applied full power the airplane pulled to the left. He corrected back to runway centerline, did not see any abnormalities, and decided that he had enough remaining runway to safely take off. He applied full power and the airplane pulled to the left again. The right wing dropped and the airplane traveled to the left of the runway. The pilot reduced power to idle and applied right rudder. As the airplane was departing the runway surface, he applied the brakes. The pilot stated that there was no noticeable response from the airplane and braced himself as the airplane struck a taxiway sign and spun across the dirt between the runway and taxiway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and reported that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have caused a loss of aircraft control.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA054 for the full record.