N404EC

On July 15, 1999, about 1045 Eastern Daylight Time, a Diamond DA-20-A1 (Katana), N404EC, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Sanford Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Laurence G. Hanscom Airport, Bedford, Massachusetts. A visual flight rules flight plan had been filed, but not activated, for the supervised solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The student pilot stated that she was practicing touch and go landings to Runway 32 at SFM. On her second or third landing, she applied power, and the airplane veered to the left. She applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left, off the side of the runway, and onto the grass. She then reduced power, but the airplane continued across the grass, and came to rest in a ditch.

The student pilot's flight instructor stated that he endorsed her logbook for a long cross country flight. At the time of the accident, she was on the last leg of the flight. He further stated that the student pilot had 55 hours of flight experience.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any.