On September 30, 2007, an Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR-EVEKTOR (registration N806EV) operated by Wright Aero Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Maple Lake, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to relinquish the flight controls and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision which resulted in the certified flight instructor not being able to maintain directional control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A student pilot with one hour of flight time experienced a loss of control during takeoff when the aircraft yawed left, and the student's subsequent right rudder input caused the airplane to impact terrain.
Accident Details
During initial takeoff climb, the airplane sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain. The flight was a second instructional flight for a student pilot who had accumulated a total of one hour of flight time. The student was attempting the first takeoff of that flight.
Flight Instructor's Report
The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that after becoming airborne, the airplane "yawed hard to the left" at approximately 20 to 30 feet above ground level. The CFI took control of the aircraft. However, the student pilot then pushed hard on the right rudder pedal while attempting to push himself back into his seat. This input caused the airplane to lose altitude.
Impact and Egress
The airplane impacted a ravine on the right side of the runway in a level attitude, perpendicular to the runway. After the airplane nosed over, both the CFI and the student pilot exited through the broken canopy.