Incident Summary
During a training flight on a 1,500-foot grass airstrip, a student pilot advanced the throttle to approximately three-quarters of its full travel at the beginning of the takeoff roll. The flight instructor noted that full power was not applied until the aircraft had progressed about halfway down the runway. The airplane failed to reach flying speed by the time it reached the end of the airstrip. Although it became airborne momentarily, it subsequently settled and struck the ground, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and right wingtip.
Sequence of Events
The student pilot initiated the takeoff roll with less than full throttle. The instructor reported that the student added the remaining power only after covering roughly half of the available runway length. The airplane did not achieve sufficient airspeed to sustain flight as it approached the runway's end. It lifted off briefly but then descended and impacted the terrain. The resulting impact largely damaged the fuselage and the right wingtip.
Investigation Findings
According to the flight instructor, a post-accident examination revealed no preexisting malfunctions or failures with the aircraft that would have prevented normal operation. The instructor attributed the event to the student's throttle management during the takeoff. No other contributing factors were identified.