Event GAA19CA440

Factual narrative

During a private pilot check ride the student was asked to make a soft field takeoff. The student pilot reported that, during a soft field takeoff, he applied back pressure and anticipated that the airplane would become airborne. He never felt the airplane "come up" and he applied more back pressure. The airplane "popped up," banked to the left, and struck the runway. The airplane exited the runway to the left into the grass and the nose and right landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During a private pilot checkride, the student pilot was asked to perform a soft-field takeoff. The student reported that, during the takeoff, he applied back pressure and anticipated that the airplane would become airborne. He added that he never felt the airplane "come up," so he applied more back pressure. He reported that the airplane then "popped up," banked left, and struck the runway. The airplane exited the runway to the left into grass, and the nose and right landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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-Lateral/bank control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C