A C172RG has a runway excursion during takeoff from sfb, fl.

Attributes
ACN	375342
Time
Date	199707
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfb
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : msp
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	375342
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	375457
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While attempting soft field takeoff, control could not be maintained, I simultaneously lowered the nose, applied full right rudder, and retarded throttle to idle. Aircraft was approaching 40 KTS at this point and the airplane continued to travel off the runway (runway 9R) where I allowed it to roll to a stop in the grass. The airplane was due for 100 hour inspection in 7 hours, so we wrote it up (C172RG) for maintenance. No damages occurred that were apparent on postflt inspection. Supplemental information from acn 375457: we began a soft field takeoff roll, the engine produced proper power and centerline was being maintained. At approximately 40 KIAS the C172RG veered violently left, full right rudder was applied, the nose gear was lowered, and power was brought to idle. We were unable to keep aircraft on the runway but managed to stop in the grass with no damage. All control surfaces appear to function normal. It seemed as if the aircraft didn't have enough rudder to counter left turning tendencies, but this should have become apparent prior to 40 KTS. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that he and the CFI candidate who was actually flying did a very extensive postflt inspection and could not find problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172RG HAS A RWY EXCURSION DURING TKOF FROM SFB, FL.

Narrative: WHILE ATTEMPTING SOFT FIELD TKOF, CTL COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED, I SIMULTANEOUSLY LOWERED THE NOSE, APPLIED FULL R RUDDER, AND RETARDED THROTTLE TO IDLE. ACFT WAS APCHING 40 KTS AT THIS POINT AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL OFF THE RWY (RWY 9R) WHERE I ALLOWED IT TO ROLL TO A STOP IN THE GRASS. THE AIRPLANE WAS DUE FOR 100 HR INSPECTION IN 7 HRS, SO WE WROTE IT UP (C172RG) FOR MAINT. NO DAMAGES OCCURRED THAT WERE APPARENT ON POSTFLT INSPECTION. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 375457: WE BEGAN A SOFT FIELD TKOF ROLL, THE ENG PRODUCED PROPER PWR AND CTRLINE WAS BEING MAINTAINED. AT APPROX 40 KIAS THE C172RG VEERED VIOLENTLY L, FULL R RUDDER WAS APPLIED, THE NOSE GEAR WAS LOWERED, AND PWR WAS BROUGHT TO IDLE. WE WERE UNABLE TO KEEP ACFT ON THE RWY BUT MANAGED TO STOP IN THE GRASS WITH NO DAMAGE. ALL CTL SURFACES APPEAR TO FUNCTION NORMAL. IT SEEMED AS IF THE ACFT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RUDDER TO COUNTER L TURNING TENDENCIES, BUT THIS SHOULD HAVE BECOME APPARENT PRIOR TO 40 KTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT HE AND THE CFI CANDIDATE WHO WAS ACTUALLY FLYING DID A VERY EXTENSIVE POSTFLT INSPECTION AND COULD NOT FIND PROBS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.