Accident Sequence
The student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings. During the initial takeoff roll of one such landing, the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot was unable to keep the airplane on the runway, and it departed the left side. The main landing gear then contacted soft snow, causing the airplane to nose over.
Pilot Report
The student pilot stated that he had intended to perform several touch-and-go landings. He reported that the airplane pulled left immediately during the takeoff roll. He could not correct the deviation, and the airplane exited the runway surface to the left. Contact with soft snow led to the nose-over.
Inspection Findings
An FAA airworthiness inspector arrived at the accident site and examined the airplane. The inspection revealed that the brake assembly on the left side had an accumulation of ice. This ice was restricting the left wheel from rotating. The inspector noted that once the ice melted, the wheel could rotate freely. No other issues were documented in the report.
Conclusion
The presence of ice on the left brake assembly restricted wheel rotation, leading to the left pull. The soft snow off the runway caused the nose-over after the airplane exited the pavement.