Incident Overview
A student pilot flying her second solo cross-country flight encountered a partial loss of engine power during the initial climb. She attempted to return to the departure runway three times, each time flying a left traffic pattern that became progressively lower. Ground witnesses observed the aircraft flying patterns that were described as "low, close and with tight base to final turns."
Maneuvers and Crash
On each base-to-final turn, the aircraft overshot the turn due to a strong left crosswind. During the third base-to-final turn, witnesses saw the aircraft enter a very steep bank, stall, and strike the ground on its left wing tip. A post-crash fire consumed the aircraft.
Post-Crash Examination
Investigators found no evidence of a catastrophic engine failure. However, examination of the spark plugs revealed that four of them failed a pressure chamber test. Three of those plugs had electrode gaps in excess of .022 inches (normal gap is .016 inches) and showed significant wear.
Maintenance Records
Review of the aircraft's maintenance records showed that the maintenance facility replaced spark plugs only on a one-for-one basis, rather than replacing them in complete sets.
Conclusion
The source does not state a probable cause for the accident.