Summary
On December 24, 2019, a Piper PA28 (N7450R) was involved in an accident near Cortland, NY. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during takeoff, which resulted in impact with a snowbank and a subsequent nose-over.
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.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA20CA110. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7450R.
Accident Details
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
Registered Owner (Historical)
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