Textron Aviation Inc 172S N767VK accident near Augusta, Kansas

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain control during the takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot planned to perform three takeoffs and landings, and one go-around for her solo flight. After completing the third landing, the student pilot stated that she still needed to perform a go-around and decided to take off for a fourth time. After she applied takeoff power, the airplane began to drift toward the left edge of the runway. To avoid going into the snow, she rotated and “tried to make it fly.” The airplane became partially airborne before it touched back down. The pilot then applied the brakes and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the snow next to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and vertical stabilizer.

The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA104 for the full record.