Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 20-C1 N365DC accident near Mount Sterling, Kentucky

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go.

NTSB analysis

The accident flight was the student pilot’s first solo cross-country flight, and she planned to perform a touch-and-go before proceeding to the next intended destination. The landing proceeded uneventfully, but when the pilot applied engine power for takeoff, the airplane began turning to the left. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing right rudder, but the airplane continued left and departed the side of the runway. The airplane proceeded through the grass adjacent to the runway, across the taxiway, and into the grass again before the pilot decreased the engine power. As the airplane slowed, the nose landing gear dug into the ground before it separated, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane and that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was 4 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10CA173 for the full record.