History of the Flight
On 19 February 2010, a student pilot was conducting a solo navigational exercise in a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-AVWJ, from Full Sutton Airfield in Yorkshire. Earlier that day, the instructor had given permission following several instructional lessons, during which the student performed six takeoffs. The weather was good with light winds, and the grass runway was reported to be dry and firm. The pilot had 46 total flying hours, including 17 on type, with only 2 hours in the last 90 days.
Accident Sequence
The student pilot obtained clearance to line up on the runway and was informed of a 5 kt crosswind by the controller. On commencing the takeoff run, the student applied power, and the aircraft quickly veered to the left. The student applied right rudder to counteract the veer but, in his opinion, the control input was too vigorous. He then applied left rudder even harder to correct, causing the aircraft to leave the runway. The nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest in an adjacent ploughed field, damaging the propeller and cowling.
Aftermath
The student pilot exited the aircraft safely, sustaining only a minor injury to his hand as a result of the accident. In his description of events, the student pilot believed the accident was due to overly vigorous control inputs and not reducing the throttle quickly enough to prevent the aircraft from departing the runway into the field.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a 1967 Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, powered by a Lycoming O-320-E2A piston engine. It was being used for training, with only the student pilot on board. The commander was a 33-year-old student pilot with 46 hours of flying experience, 17 of which were on the accident type.