Incident Overview
A student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings when a gust of wind caused the aircraft to veer right and depart the runway. The aircraft struck a tree, rotated 90 degrees, and came to rest in a grassy area. The student pilot was not injured, and no mechanical issues were reported.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot had completed five touch-and-go landings without incident. Noticing increasing wind, the pilot decided to perform one final landing. During the landing roll on the runway, a gust of wind struck the aircraft, causing it to veer to the right. The pilot attempted to regain control by applying the brakes but was unable to prevent the aircraft from leaving the runway. The aircraft struck a tree, turned 90 degrees to the right, and came to rest in a grassy area adjacent to the runway.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft incurred substantial damage to the firewall during the accident sequence. No other damage specifics were provided.
Pilot Report
The student pilot reported that the wind around the time of the accident was from approximately 40 degrees left of the runway heading, at 4 to 6 knots, gusting to 9 knots. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.