Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with trees.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The solo student pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice maneuvers in the traffic pattern. During a touch and go landing on a dry asphalt runway and as the student pilot was about to retract the flaps and apply power, the airplane started to “veer off drastically” to the left. The student pilot applied right rudder and the brakes, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and impacted several trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.