Tangier Island, VA, USA
N5180L
Piper PA-28-280
The pilot stated that he initiated a takeoff roll on runway 02, a 2,950-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During rotation, the main landing gear traveled over bumps on the runway, and the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct the airplane, but the main landing gear traveled over another series of bumps on the runway, and the airplane veered further left. The airplane subsequently traveled off the left side of the runway, and struck a ditch.
The pilot of a Piper PA-28-180 stated that he initiated a takeoff roll on runway 2; a 2,950-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During rotation, the main landing gear traveled over bumps on the runway, and the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct the airplane, but the main landing gear traveled over another series of bumps on the runway, and the airplane veered further left. The airplane subsequently traveled off the left side of the runway, and struck a ditch. The wind reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, was from 340 degrees at 7 knots, varying from 289 degrees to 029 degrees.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a ditch. A factor was the rough runway condition.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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