Accident Details
A student pilot on a night flight struck the ground shortly after departure while maneuvering to return to the airport. The impact occurred approximately 1,400 feet north of Runway 18, on a southerly track toward the runway threshold. The runway lights were illuminated at the time. The aircraft contacted the ground in a nose-down attitude of about 15 degrees and a left bank of approximately 35 degrees.
After the initial impact, the aircraft slid about 80 feet, then rotated about its right wing and flipped over 10- to 15-foot-tall trees. It came to rest inverted approximately 110 feet from the point of first impact.
Pilot Information
The student pilot had accumulated 79 total flight hours, including 3 hours of night dual instruction completed in March and June 1984. An acquaintance reported that the pilot departed home for the nearby airport at approximately 0500 CDT. Sunrise on the day of the accident occurred at 0558 CDT. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions were reported at the nearest reporting station, located 35 miles southeast, at 0822 CDT.
Wreckage Examination
A flashlight that was not aboard the aircraft during the previous flight was found in the wreckage. The landing and taxi light was illuminated at the time of impact. The Hobbs meter showed that 2/10 hour had elapsed before the accident.