Accident Overview
A student pilot, operating on a solo flight, reported that the airplane departed the runway surface and struck a snowbank, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. According to the pilot's account, he had completed one takeoff and landing and was attempting a second takeoff when the incident occurred.
Pilot's Account
The pilot stated that after applying full power, the airplane began veering to the left. Concerned about overcontrolling, he did not apply the brakes. As he realized the airplane was departing the runway, he pulled the power back and subsequently hit a snowbank approximately 15 inches high. The pilot noted that no failures or malfunctions with the airplane were identified before or at the time of the accident.
Runway Conditions
The pilot reported that prior to taxiing, the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) had indicated braking action as "poor" on runway 35.
Damage Assessment
The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact with the snowbank.