Event
A student pilot, who had completed six touch-and-go landings with his certified flight instructor (CFI), was cleared for solo flight. After obtaining automated terminal information service indicating wind from 320 degrees at 10 knots, he taxied to runway 31.
During the takeoff roll, the student reported feeling the airplane being pushed from the left. He applied corrective rudder input but then felt pushed to the right despite his input. After applying left rudder again, the airplane departed the runway, contacted the ground, and nosed over. The student exited the inverted airplane and was not injured.
CFI Observations
The CFI, who was observing the takeoff, reported that the airplane began veering left during the roll. He briefly saw the nose and left main landing gear off the runway, about 6 to 12 inches, before they contacted the runway surface again. The airplane then collided with a taxiway sign, causing it to nose over.
Postaccident Inspection
A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane after the accident and found no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls.