N79569

On February 18, 1995, at 1545 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 172, N79569, registered to Lakeshore Aviators of Holland, Michigan, with a commercially certificated flight instructor acting as pilot-in-command during a dual instructional flight, was substantially damaged when it collided with a snowbank shortly after liftoff from runway 05 (2,999 X 50' dry asphalt) at the Park Township Airport, Holland, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Holland, Michigan, at 1530 est.

According to the instructor, the purpose of the flight was to "...practice takeoffs and landings... ." He said the "initial takeoff was to be a soft field with [a] slight crosswind." Before the flight he said he discussed crosswind takeoff techniques with the student. During the takeoff roll he said the "...aircraft moved left due to torque and P-factor with [a] high nose pitch... ." The instructor said the student began to correct for the airplane's left movement. He said, "at lift off [the] nose was lowered but [the] aircraft drifted left."

As the airplane drifted left the instructor said its "left main gear hit [a] snow bank at [the] runway edge which pulled [the airplane's] nose left and down." He said the airplane's nose gear hit the snowbank, "...flipped on its back and slid to a stop."

The instructor was interviewed and said the student had done six or seven soft field takeoffs during two or three other flight lessons. He said the snowbanks were on the edge of the runway and were about three feet high. He said he relaxed too much during the takeoff that lead to the accident.