This February 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna TR182. Injuries: None. Location: Amargosa Valley, Nev. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to do a soft-field takeoff from a dirt runway. The airplane was two-thirds of the way down the runway when he realized he was unable to maintain adequate airspeed. The plane drifted off to the left side of the runway and into the brush. The front landing gear folded back and the left main landing gear broke off. The airplane came down in terrain and the outboard half of the right wing was partially separated.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and runway alignment.
Airplane drifts left off runway on take off. P Factor, Rudder, Rudder, Rudder! Full Power,Nose high, slow speed, lots of P Factor. Only one control will correct and control P Factor.. The Rudder!