No fatalities

20 Jun 2017: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12 NO SERIES — LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE — Eugene, OR

Eugene, OR, United States

On 20 Jun 2017, a VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12 NO SERIES operated by LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE was involved in an aviation accident near Eugene, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot conducting stop-and-go landings lost directional control during takeoff, causing the airplane to exit the runway and strike a taxiway sign. The fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A student pilot was performing stop-and-go landings during a solo flight when the accident occurred. According to the flight school director, the student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane began to "fishtail." The student pilot reduced power, but the airplane continued to veer to the left, departed the runway surface, and impacted a taxiway sign.

Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage as a result of the impact with the sign.

Aircraft Condition

The flight school director stated that, according to the student pilot, there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No other contributing factors were mentioned in the report.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome