Accident Sequence
A solo student pilot was conducting her first cross-country flight and was cleared for takeoff on runway 19R. Just after rotation, the airplane veered to the left and departed the left side of the runway, which measures 7,575 feet in length and 150 feet in width. The aircraft came to rest in a ditch bordering the runway, sustaining substantial damage to its wings and fuselage.
Separation Issue
According to the pilot, prior to her takeoff clearance, a DeHavilland DHC-8 had departed from the opposite direction on the same runway. Approximately two minutes elapsed between the departure of the larger aircraft and her own departure. However, the Air Traffic Controller's Manual (FAA Order 7110.65M) stipulates a 3-minute interval between departures of large and small aircraft, along with the issuance of a wake turbulence advisory. The manual classifies a DeHavilland DHC-8 as a large turboprop and a Cessna 152 as a small aircraft. Review of air-ground radio communications tapes showed that the actual time separation between the two departures was 1 minute and 49 seconds, and no wake turbulence advisory was given.
Damage
The aircraft came to rest in a ditch adjacent to the runway. The resulting impact caused substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. No further details about the aircraft type or registration are specified.