Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff in crosswind conditions.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that during rotation, “all of a sudden the back of the plane kicked to the right and at the same time caused me to takeoff [to] the left.” He attempted to abort the takeoff; however, the airplane impacted marsh terrain adjacent to the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing and main wing spar. He reported that he was aware of crosswind conditions at the time of the takeoff but not too concerned because he had landed and took off in those conditions on previous flights. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA138 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 18, 2024
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Aitkin, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Aitkin Muni/Steve Kurtz Fld (AIT)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cirrus Design Corp SR20
- N-number
- N788JN
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2004
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.