ERA14CA240

Factual narrative

The student pilot had accumulated about 11 hours of total flight experience and had just completed a solo takeoff and landing uneventfully. The student pilot reported that following the landing, he taxied the airplane for another takeoff attempt on the 4,057-foot-long, 70-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the takeoff attempt, the airplane yawed left and the student pilot tried to correct with right rudder input; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck parked construction equipment. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the nosegear, left wing, and firewall. She did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any. The recorded wind at the airport, at the time of the accident, was a left crosswind at 6 knots. The student pilot had accumulated about 11 hours of total flight experience and had just completed a solo takeoff and landing uneventfully. The student pilot reported that following the landing, he taxied the airplane for another takeoff attempt on the 4,057-foot-long, 70-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the takeoff attempt, the airplane yawed left and the student pilot tried to correct with right rudder input; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck parked construction equipment. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the nosegear, left wing, and firewall. She did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any. The recorded wind at the airport, at the time of the accident, was a left crosswind at 6 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, 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-Student/instructed pilot - C
• — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground equipment-Contributed to outcome