Event ERA10CA413

Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, he began his takeoff roll on runway 26, a 6,934-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway. When the airspeed reached about 40 knots, the airplane “got out of control” and veered to the left because the student pilot “overcompensated” with rudder. He attempted to regain control of the airplane by reducing engine power; however, the airplane lifted off the runway. The pilot then added full power; however, the airplane began to descend, and he realized that it would not clear a corn field located to the left of the runway. The pilot then elected to reduce engine power again. The airplane touched down in a field and struck a bale of hay, substantially damaging the left wing and fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. He noted that his total flight experience was 19 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 200 degrees at 7 knots. According to the student pilot, he began the takeoff roll for his solo flight on runway 26, a 6,934-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, asphalt runway. When the airspeed reached about 40 knots, the airplane “got out of control” and veered to the left because the student pilot “overcompensated” with rudder. He attempted to regain control of the airplane by reducing engine power; however, the airplane lifted off the runway. The pilot then added full power; however, the airplane began to descend, and he realized that it would not clear a corn field located to the left of the runway. The pilot then elected to reduce engine power again. The airplane touched down in a field and struck a bale of hay, substantially damaging the left wing and fuselage. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. He noted that his total flight experience was 19 hours, all of which were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 200 degrees at 7 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

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