ERA10CA173

Factual narrative

The accident flight was the student pilot’s first solo cross-country flight, and she planned to perform a touch-and-go before proceeding to the next intended destination. The landing proceeded uneventfully, but when the pilot applied engine power for takeoff, the airplane began turning to the left. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing right rudder, but the airplane continued left and departed the side of the runway. The airplane proceeded through the grass adjacent to the runway, across the taxiway, and into the grass again before the pilot decreased the engine power. As the airplane slowed, the nose landing gear dug into the ground before it separated, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane, and that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was 4 knots. The accident flight was the student pilot’s first solo cross-country flight, and she planned to perform a touch-and-go before proceeding to the next intended destination. The landing proceeded uneventfully, but when the pilot applied engine power for takeoff, the airplane began turning to the left. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing right rudder, but the airplane continued left and departed the side of the runway. The airplane proceeded through the grass adjacent to the runway, across the taxiway, and into the grass again before the pilot decreased the engine power. As the airplane slowed, the nose landing gear dug into the ground before it separated, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane and that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was 4 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C