No fatalities

10 Sep 2012: GROB-WERKE G 120A — International Pilot School — Mobile, AZ

Mobile, AZ, United States

On 10 Sep 2012, a GROB-WERKE G 120A operated by International Pilot School was involved in an aviation accident near Mobile, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll and the subsequent aborted takeoff in a gusting crosswind. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot, after a full-stop landing and taxi back, initiated a takeoff roll in a crosswind. A gust just before rotation caused the airplane to yaw left and raise the right wing. The pilot aborted, but the airplane departed the runway and struck a bush, damaging the left wing.

Accident Details

A student pilot was conducting a takeoff roll after completing a full-stop landing and taxiing back to the approach end of the runway. The wind was approximately eight knots from about 45 degrees to the right of the airplane's nose.

Sequence of Events

Just before the pilot initiated rotation, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the right. The gust caused the right wing to raise and the airplane to yaw to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the gust by applying right aileron and right rudder. Despite these inputs, the airplane continued moving toward the left edge of the 75-foot-wide runway.

The pilot then decided to abort the takeoff. He reduced the engine power to idle and applied the brakes. During the attempt to bring the airplane to a stop, it departed the left side of the runway.

Damage

After leaving the runway, the airplane collided with a large bush. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot and the operator, there was no indication of any mechanical malfunction associated with the accident sequence.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent pilotEffect on operation