N6899W

On May 12, 2001, about 1940 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6899W, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during a takeoff attempt at Addington Field (EKX), Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries, and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he was attempting to take off from Runway 05. Everything appeared normal until just before liftoff, when the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder with no effect. When he saw that the airplane was going to veer off the runway, he closed the throttle and applied both brakes. The airplane continued off the runway, through the median between the runway and the taxiway, over the taxiway, and into a ditch. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties with the airplane. The pilot also reported the weather was "clear, the runway was dry, the wind was light and not a factor."

Weather, recorded at an airport 60 miles to the north about the time of the accident, included winds from 020, at 11 knots.