Incident Overview
A student pilot, with approximately 40 hours of flight time in the same make and model aircraft, was conducting a touch and go landing. During the landing, a slight crosswind caused the aircraft to drift off the runway. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder, but the airplane continued to deviate from the runway centerline.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft departed the left side of runway 17. As it left the paved surface, it struck a windsock. The airplane then entered an area of sandy, soft, wet ground, where the nose wheel became embedded in mud. This caused the aircraft to nose over.
Wind Conditions
Winds reported at an airport approximately 18 miles north of the incident site were from 240 degrees at 4 knots.
Pilot Experience
The student pilot had accumulated about 40 hours of flight time, all in this make and model aircraft.