Accident Sequence
A student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landing practice. During one landing, after the main landing gear touched down, the pilot lowered the nosewheel. At that moment, the aircraft turned sharply to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the turn but was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane departed the runway and collided with a ditch, causing the aircraft to nose over.
Investigation
An aviation safety inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the airplane at the scene of the accident. The examination disclosed that the steering linkages for the nosewheel had separated. The student pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if the landing gear had been inspected more frequently, noting that the aircraft was used extensively by student pilots.
No other factors were reported.