Accident Details
A 150-hour solo student pilot lost control of a single-engine airplane while attempting a short field takeoff from runway 30. The prevailing surface wind was a 15-knot tailwind, as indicated by a windsock at the airport. The pilot performed an intersection takeoff instead of using the full runway length because another aircraft blocked his access to the beginning of the runway. The runway is 4,165 feet long and 75 feet wide.
Pilot Account
During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the student pilot stated that after takeoff he allowed his airspeed to deteriorate, causing the stall horn to activate. He further stated that he elected to crash straight ahead after realizing the airplane could not accelerate or climb. The pilot failed to return a completed NTSB Form 6120.1 to the Investigator in Charge.
Weather Conditions
Eyewitnesses reported that the windsock indicated a surface wind of at least 15 knots from approximately 160 degrees at the time of departure. The nearest weather reporting station, about 7 nautical miles southwest, reported winds from 130 degrees at 10 knots. Another station, located about 12 miles west, reported winds from 170 degrees at 11 knots.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector investigated the accident site and found that the airplane touched down in a wings-level attitude about 76 feet from the departure end of the runway. It then impacted a chain link fence before coming to rest inverted approximately 340 feet from the departure end of runway 30. The aircraft damage was consistent with a loss of control during takeoff.