Accident Details
During an attempted takeoff, the student pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The aircraft veered off the side of the runway, collided with a ditch, and nosed over. The accident occurred during the student's first solo cross-country flight. According to the student, she had made a normal approach and landing on runway 19. Thereafter, she retracted the wing flaps and applied full engine power to take off. At that moment, the airplane began turning left, and she attempted to correct its course by applying pressure to the right rudder pedal. The student was unsuccessful in redirecting the airplane onto its proper course down the 75-foot-wide by 5,100-foot-long runway under the prevailing calm wind condition.
Pilot Information
At the time of the accident, the student's total solo flight time was 4.2 hours, and her total flight time was 25.3 hours.
Instructor Commentary
The student's certified flight instructor (CFI) opined that his student may not have applied sufficient right rudder pressure to counteract the airplane's left turning tendency after the application of engine power.