N295SP – CESSNA 172 – 2010-07-13 NTSB Accident Report

On July 13, 2010, a Cessna 172 (N295SP) was involved in an incident near Fairhope, AL. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind takeoff.

According to the student pilot, she began the initial takeoff roll from runway 1 for her first solo flight with control inputs for a left crosswind. The airplane started to turn right, so she partially released right rudder pressure. About 50 knots, "the nose swung left and wobbled." The student pilot then "went to add right rudder" but "was afraid of flipping it." The airplane departed the left side of the runway and traveled across a grass median, an embankment, and a taxiway, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA10CA358. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N295SP.