ATL98LA094

Factual narrative

On July 6, 1998, about 0755 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739ZA, collided with a ditch and trees during takeoff from the Olive Branch Airport, Olive Branch, Mississippi. The local flight was operated by Douglas Aviation, Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the instructional, solo flight. There were no injuries to the student pilot, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The local flight originated from the same airport about 0725. According to the pilot, he had completed 7 touch and go landings, the first three with the flight instructor, and the last four solo. On the eighth departure from runway 18, the airplane veered left and departed the runway. Recovery attempts by the student were unsuccessful. The nose wheel contacted a ditch and the airplane nosed over. According to the FAA, the student pilot was conducting his second supervised solo flight, when he departed the left side of runway 18 on takeoff, and substantially damaged the airplane after impacting a ditch and small trees. According to the student pilot, on the eighth departure from runway 18, the plane began to drift to the left. He applied right rudder to correct but the airplane continued to drift to the left. According to the FAA, the student pilot was conducting his second supervised solo flight, when he departed the left side of runway 18 on takeoff, and substantially damaged the airplane after impacting a ditch and small trees. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12