Aircraft and Flight Details
The incident involved a Cessna 152, registration ZS-MPG, conducting a solo training flight. The flight was on 4 June 2002 at 0840Z, departing and intending to land at Virginia Airport. The pilot was a student with 22 total flying hours, all on type. The aircraft was maintained as prescribed.
Sequence of Events
The pilot landed safely on the centerline of Runway 23. He then applied full power and retracted the flaps. The aircraft veered to the left off the runway. The pilot took corrective action by applying full right rudder but was unable to maintain directional control. He then closed the throttle and applied brakes but was unable to prevent the left wing from colliding with the bushes next to the runway.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft's wing tips and the right-hand aileron were damaged. There were no injuries; the pilot was not hurt.
Weather
The weather was fine with a 5-8 knot South Westerly wind.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the incident was that the pilot failed to maintain directional control during take-off.