What happened
During the initial phase of the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted toward the left side of the runway while under the control of a student pilot with only seven hours of total flight time. The accompanying flight instructor verbally noted this deviation to the student. As the aircraft became airborne, it banked sharply to the right. This maneuver caused the right wing tip to strike the ground. Although the flight instructor immediately assumed control of the airplane, he was unable to correct the situation before the wing tip impacted the ground again and the aircraft subsequently flew into nearby trees.
The investigation
The available source material does not provide specific details regarding mechanical inspections or post-accident examination findings beyond the immediate sequence of events described in the narrative. No further investigative data is present in the provided text to detail mechanical conditions or environmental factors other than the pilot's actions and the resulting trajectory.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the student pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, leading to a lateral drift. This error persisted into the initial climb phase, where an uncommanded bank resulted in ground contact with the right wing tip. The flight instructor's timely intervention was insufficient to prevent the final collision with trees due to the low altitude and rapid onset of the situation.
Safety message
This incident highlights the critical importance of maintaining precise directional control during the takeoff roll, particularly for pilots with limited total time. Early correction of drift is essential to prevent loss of control or ground contact immediately after liftoff.