N4599D

On October 24, 2002, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4599D, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU), Morristown, New Jersey. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The flight instructor reported that he and the student pilot had completed four touch-and-go landings. The student pilot then completed one solo touch-and-go to runway 5; a 5,999-foot long, 150-foot wide, asphalt runway. During her second touch-and-go, after touchdown, the student pilot added power. The airplane then pulled to the right, and departed the right side of the runway. The airplane traveled over grass, an intersecting runway, and eventually struck trees before coming to rest upright.

The student pilot reported that during the second solo touch-and-go, after adding power, the airplane veered to the right. The airplane departed the runway and struck trees.

The student pilot had a total flight experience of approximately 48 hours, of which, about 47 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Additionally, the student pilot reported about 1 hour of solo flight experience.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to both wings. The inspector did not observe any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any.

The reported winds at MMU, at 1645, were variable at 5 knots.