Private pilot of a C172 lost directional control during takeoff roll resulting in going off the edge...

Attributes
ACN	454110
Time
Date	199911
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : azo.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 210 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	454110
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	excursion : runway other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I did not maintain directional control during takeoff roll. Cleared for takeoff runway 35. Applied full power. A few seconds into the takeoff roll, the plane veered sharply to the left. I applied both brakes and then reduced power to idle. During the roll to the left, the left main went off the runway surface into the adjoining grass. Applying right rudder after the power was reduced, the plane was returned to the runway surface. I notified the tower that I was aborting the takeoff and was cleared off the runway at the next taxiway. No damage occurred to the plane or to airport facilities. Reviewing what happened, I had not applied a proper amount of right rudder to counteract the left turning tendency. I am not sure but I also may have had my left foot applying some pressure on the left rudder or brake which may have made the problem worse. I have reviewed my seat position and the relative placement of my feet on the rudders versus the toe brakes. I have also reviewed takeoff procedures and have increased awareness of the need for right rudder input on the ground roll as well as needing it after liftoff. I should have reduced power first and then applied the brakes so I have reviewed takeoff emergency procedures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF A C172 LOST DIRECTIONAL CTL DURING TKOF ROLL RESULTING IN GOING OFF THE EDGE OF THE RWY BEFORE REGAINING ACFT CTL AND BRINGING THE ACFT BACK ONTO THE RWY WHERE THE TKOF WAS ABORTED.

Narrative: I DID NOT MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CTL DURING TKOF ROLL. CLRED FOR TKOF RWY 35. APPLIED FULL PWR. A FEW SECONDS INTO THE TKOF ROLL, THE PLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE L. I APPLIED BOTH BRAKES AND THEN REDUCED PWR TO IDLE. DURING THE ROLL TO THE L, THE L MAIN WENT OFF THE RWY SURFACE INTO THE ADJOINING GRASS. APPLYING R RUDDER AFTER THE PWR WAS REDUCED, THE PLANE WAS RETURNED TO THE RWY SURFACE. I NOTIFIED THE TWR THAT I WAS ABORTING THE TKOF AND WAS CLRED OFF THE RWY AT THE NEXT TXWY. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE PLANE OR TO ARPT FACILITIES. REVIEWING WHAT HAPPENED, I HAD NOT APPLIED A PROPER AMOUNT OF R RUDDER TO COUNTERACT THE L TURNING TENDENCY. I AM NOT SURE BUT I ALSO MAY HAVE HAD MY L FOOT APPLYING SOME PRESSURE ON THE L RUDDER OR BRAKE WHICH MAY HAVE MADE THE PROB WORSE. I HAVE REVIEWED MY SEAT POS AND THE RELATIVE PLACEMENT OF MY FEET ON THE RUDDERS VERSUS THE TOE BRAKES. I HAVE ALSO REVIEWED TKOF PROCS AND HAVE INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR R RUDDER INPUT ON THE GND ROLL AS WELL AS NEEDING IT AFTER LIFTOFF. I SHOULD HAVE REDUCED PWR FIRST AND THEN APPLIED THE BRAKES SO I HAVE REVIEWED TKOF EMER PROCS.

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.

Private pilot of a C172 lost directional control during takeoff roll resulting in going off the edge of the runway before regaining aircraft control and bringing the aircraft back onto the runway where the takeoff was aborted.