N78254

On July 14, 2001, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 172K airplane, N78254, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 14, the student pilot reported that she was practicing touch-and-go landings, and that she had completed two touch-and-go landings on runway 03. She said that during the second landing, she inadvertently touched down farther down the runway than anticipated, so she elected to perform a full stop landing, taxi back to the end of the runway, and utilize the full length of the 3,700 feet long, paved runway. She said that during the takeoff roll, about midway down the runway, she felt that the airplane was not going to fly as the airspeed exceeded 70 knots, so she closed the throttle, and applied heavy braking. The airplane veered slightly to the right, continued off the end of the runway, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine firewall. The airplane was retrieved from the accident site and transported to the parking area.

On July 17, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, traveled to the accident airport and examined the airplane. He reported that he was unable to detect any preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.