Summary
On May 14, 2014, a Piper PA-28-151 (N32002) was involved in an incident near Norfolk, VA. 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 takeoff.
The student pilot had accumulated about 11 hours of total flight experience and had just completed a solo takeoff and landing uneventfully. The student pilot reported that following the landing, he taxied the airplane for another takeoff attempt on the 4,057-foot-long, 70-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the takeoff attempt, the airplane yawed left and the student pilot tried to correct with right rudder input; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck parked construction equipment. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the nosegear, left wing, and firewall. She did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA14CA240. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N32002.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The student pilot had accumulated about 11 hours of total flight experience and had just completed a solo takeoff and landing uneventfully. The student pilot reported that following the landing, he taxied the airplane for another takeoff attempt on the 4,057-foot-long, 70-foot-wide, asphalt runway. During the takeoff attempt, the airplane yawed left and the student pilot tried to correct with right rudder input; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck parked construction equipment. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the nosegear, left wing, and firewall. She did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any. The recorded wind at the airport, at the time of the accident, was a left crosswind at 6 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA14CA240