Incident Overview
A student pilot with 42 total flight hours was conducting solo touch-and-go crosswind landings on Runway 09. During the fifth and final landing, the single-engine airplane swerved unintentionally and exited the right side of the runway. The runway was 3,455 feet long and 40 feet wide, constructed of asphalt.
Sequence of Events
After the airplane departed the runway surface, the nose landing gear fork fractured, causing the airplane to nosed over. It came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted.
Damage Examination
The vertical stabilizer and rudder sustained structural damage. An examination of the airplane's flight controls revealed no mechanical failure or malfunction.
Weather Conditions
The nearest weather observation facility, located approximately sixteen nautical miles west of the accident site, reported wind from 170 degrees at 5 knots.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a student pilot certificate and had accumulated 42 hours of flight time. The flight was conducted solo, and the pilot was performing touch-and-go landings with crosswind conditions.