What happened
On November 8, 2004, a student pilot was conducting a solo training session at Groningen Airport Eelde. Following a series of supervised touch-and-go maneuvers with an instructor, the pilot attempted three solo departures on runway 23 during twilight conditions. The initial landing was performed with flaps extended and carburetor heat set to warm, touching down approximately 150 meters past the runway threshold.
Upon completing the landing, the pilot retracted the flaps, turned off the carburetor heat, and applied full throttle. During the takeoff roll, the Cessna F172P veered to the left, exiting the paved surface. As the aircraft moved onto the soft ground adjacent to the runway, the nose gear sank into the soil, causing the nose gear strut to break. Traveling at approximately 55 knots, the aircraft then flipped over, coming to rest upside down about 50 meters from the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation relied on information provided by the involved parties and the Aviation Police. Investigators examined the aircraft's control systems and found no mechanical defects that would have prevented normal operation. The weather at the time of the accident was favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 kilometers and a light southern wind of 4 knots. The flight took place during the period of twilight, with runway lighting active.
Findings
- The pilot was in the early stages of solo flight training, having completed only three solo flights prior to the accident.
- The aircraft's mechanical systems, including the steering mechanism, were functioning correctly.
- The pilot likely failed to provide sufficient or timely right-rudder input to counteract the leftward yaw caused by the engine's torque and P-factor during the takeoff roll.
- The departure from the runway led to the nose gear encountering soft terrain, resulting in the structural failure of the nose gear and the subsequent rollover.