Piper PA28
Cortland, NY — December 24, 2019
Event Information
| Date | December 24, 2019 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA20CA110 |
| Event ID | 20191225X20614 |
| Location | Cortland, NY |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 42.59278, -76.21500 |
| Airport | Cortland County-Chase Field |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA28 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain the runway heading during takeoff, which resulted in impact with a snowbank and a subsequent nose-over.
Full Narrative
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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.