Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's distraction and subsequent loss of airplane control after the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The student pilot reported that the cabin window opened during the takeoff roll. He reached over to close the window, and a few seconds later, the airplane rotated and banked to the left. He attempted to regain control of the airplane, but it collided with the runway surface causing substantial damage to the firewall and both wings. The flight was to be the pilot's first solo cross-country; he reported 55 hours of total flight time, 1 hour of which was as pilot-in-command. Right gusting crosswinds existed at the time of the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR10CA019