20241024015039A

The instructional flight was initiated after a standard ground briefing about soft-field takeoffs and landings, and standard preflight preparation including weather analysis and safety discussion. The AWOS was reporting winds 280@9 just prior to the accident takeoff on runway 33. The CFI stated the winds were variable between 280 and 320 and occasionally gusting up to 15 KTS for the duration of the pattern only flight. The loss of control occurred on approximately the ninth practice soft-field takeoff. The student drifted left as the airplane started to become airborne in ground effect, then overcorrected to the right while continuing to hold excessive back pressure and full power. The CFI verbally directed "power idle" and physically intervened after the aircraft bounced off the right tire, deviated over the right-side runway lights, and then tail-struck the A6 sign. The aircraft was brought to a stop, taxied clear of the runway and taken to maintenance for inspection where substantial damage to the tail section was discovered.