ROSAMOND, CA, USA
N61CS
Piper PA-28-140
The student pilot had previously practiced a soft field takeoff with his instructor, and he was authorized to attempt the maneuver by himself. The student extended the wing flaps to the customary second notch position and commenced the takeoff roll. The airplane accelerated, its nose pitched upward, and the airplane lifted off the ground in a nose high attitude. As the airplane departed ground effect, its high nose up pitch attitude did not decrease. The airplane yawed left, stalled, and descended until impacting the ground, a tree, and a building.
On December 30, 2000, about 1430 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N61CS, operated by A.V. Aviation, Rosamond, California, collided with trees and a building during an attempted takeoff from runway 25 at the Rosamond Skypark, Rosamond. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot's solo instructional flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The student pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI) reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that the accident occurred during his student's third supervised solo flight, and he witnessed the accident. The CFI stated that after providing about 0.9 hours of dual instruction, he exited the airplane and advised his student to stay in the traffic pattern. The student had previously performed a soft field takeoff, and he was permitted to practice the maneuver by himself. The CFI stated that the student lowered the wing flaps to the customary second notch position and commenced the takeoff roll from the beginning of the runway. The airplane's acceleration appeared normal. The airplane's nose pitched upward, and the airplane lifted off the ground in a nose high attitude. It appeared as though the student had over rotated. The airplane yawed left, and the pitch attitude did not decrease. The airplane climbed a few yards in the nose high attitude until departing ground effect, and then it descended until impacting the ground. The airplane came to rest upon colliding with a tree and a building. The student pilot reported to the Safety Board investigator that he remembered becoming airborne and the airplane yawing left. He stated that he might not have applied sufficient right rudder to overcome the left turning tendency.
The pilot's improper airplane handling technique and inadequate airspeed during performance of an intentional soft field takeoff.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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