N239NA

On August 26, 2000, about 1730 central daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N239NA, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ran off the runway during a touch-and-go landing at Cullman, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated the same day, about 1720.

The pilot stated that she stayed in the traffic pattern to perform one landing, and during the landing the approach was perfect, but after both wheels were on the runway, the airplane veered to the right. She said that she attempted to counteract the movement to the right by stepping on the left rudder, but the airplane went to the left and then the right again. She said that she then applied full power, thinking that she could make it fly, but with the application of full power the airplane's speed increased, and it continued to veer to the right. According to the pilot, the airplane exited the runway and hit the bank, at full power, incurring substantial damage. The pilot also said that prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical malfunction or failure to the aircraft or any of its systems.

According to the FAA inspector who examined the accident airplane, the student had been receiving dual flight instruction in the airplane and she and her instructor had stayed in the traffic pattern in order to practice touch-and-go landings. The inspector further stated that after performing some landings together, the instructor exited the aircraft, and the student proceeded on her first solo flight in that aircraft. The inspector said that during the solo landing the student mismanaged the controls and the aircraft departed the runway with power still applied. It crossed the grass area between the runway and taxiway, went over the taxiway and into a ditch, incurring substantial damage.