What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Preflighted Cessna N9548W a 1999 Cessna 172R. Following my checklist through engine start, leaving windows open as it was a hot afternoon. Taxied aircraft to runway 21 positioned for take off checklist and run-up. Checklist completed, made radio call for departure runway 21 visually checked for incoming traffic, taxied into position for take off, advanced to full throttle, and started take off roll. Noticed passenger window was open. Reached across to close window momentarily taking eyes off of the runway. When focused back on the runway were headed off of runway 21 to the left, a runway distance sign was in front of aircraft approximately 100 feet, not enough space to avoid the sign. After striking runway sign taxied back to FBO to report and access damage.
As the FAA filed it
PREFLIGHTED CESSNA N9548W A 1999 CESSNA 172R. FOLLOWING MY CHECKLIST THROUGH ENGINE START, LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN AS IT WAS A HOT AFTERNOON. TAXIED AIRCRAFT TO RUNWAY 21 POSITIONED FOR TAKE OFF CHECKLIST AND RUN-UP. CHECKLIST COMPLETED, MADE RADIO CALL FOR DEPARTURE RUNWAY 21 VISUALLY CHECKED FOR INCOMING TRAFFIC, TAXIED INTO POSITION FOR TAKE OFF, ADVANCED TO FULL THROTTLE, AND STARTED TAKE OFF ROLL. NOTICED PASSENGER WINDOW WAS OPEN. REACHED ACROSS TO CLOSE WINDOW MOMENTARILY TAKING EYES OFF OF THE RUNWAY. WHEN FOCUSED BACK ON THE RUNWAY WERE HEADED OFF OF RUNWAY 21 TO THE LEFT, A RUNWAY DISTANCE SIGN WAS IN FRONT OF AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET, NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO AVOID THE SIGN. AFTER STRIKING RUNWAY SIGN TAXIED BACK TO FBO TO REPORT AND ACCESS DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.