Incident Details
A student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight, which was the final such flight required to qualify for a private pilot license. The pilot had accumulated approximately 140 solo takeoffs in the aircraft.
According to the pilot's account, after executing a sharp 180-degree turn, the aircraft was lined up with the runway centerline. The pilot stopped at that point and did not pull ahead, leaving the tailwheel unlocked and positioned at approximately 90 degrees to the runway axis.
When power was applied, the tailwheel caused the rear of the aircraft to move slightly to the right, which in turn pushed the nose to the left as the tailwheel straightened out to trail behind. In response to the leftward movement of the nose, the pilot applied right rudder.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft then rolled off the pavement in a straight, misguided course. The left wheel approached a snow pile located at the intersection of a taxiway with the runway. The pilot reduced power in an attempt to abort the takeoff. Upon application of the brakes, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted.
Pilot Comments
The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by a better understanding of the tailwheel mechanism and greater familiarity with the braking characteristics of the aircraft.