N738EJ

On February 5, 2000, at 0945 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N738EJ, was substantially damaged when it veered off the left side of the runway when takeoff power was applied after a touch and go landing. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was doing touch and goes at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri, on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that after the landing she prepared for takeoff. She recalled, "...an instantaneous thought of 'that (the plane) feels odd,' and then I was immediately and rapidly veering left." She reported the veered off the runway and into the grass. She aborted the takeoff. She reported the airplane crossed a taxiway before stopping in the grass.