N20417

On May 16, 1999, at 1245 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N20417, collided with trees on the departure end of runway 03 at the Double Springs Airport in Double Springs, Alabama. The airplane was operated by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local training flight. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The training flight departed Jasper Airport in Jasper, Alabama, at 1215.

According to the student pilot, while attempting a landing on runway 03, the airplane encountered a crosswind and veered off the left side of the runway. He applied slight power to settle the airplane down gently, and realized the wind had blown him off the runway. He applied carburetor heat, retracted flaps, and applied power. The airplane went down an embankment, and the left wing collided with a tree at the bottom of the embankment where the airplane came to rest.

Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.