N7450R

Substantial
Minor

Piper PA28S/N: 28-21994

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
NTSB Number
ERA20CA110
Location
Cortland, NY
Event ID
20191225X20614
Coordinates
42.592777, -76.214996
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during takeoff, which resulted in impact with a snowbank and a subsequent nose-over. 

Aircraft Information

Registration
N7450R
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
28-21994
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1966
Model / ICAO
PA28P28A
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SPALLER JAMES M
Address
851 STATE ROUTE 222
Status
Deregistered
City
CORTLAND
State / Zip Code
NY 13045-9380
Country
United States

Analysis

The solo student pilot reported that, while practicing a soft field takeoff, the airplane entered into ground effect and drifted left of runway center line. The airplane continued to drift left, struck a snowbank, landed in the snow adjacent the runway and nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and right wing.

The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA20CA110