| Crash location | 38.976389°N, 76.329723°W |
| Nearest city | Stevensville, MD
38.980668°N, 76.314400°W 0.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N644DC |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 11 Sep 2008 |
| Aircraft type | Diamond Aircraft Industry Inc DA 20-C1 |
| Additional details: | None |
The solo student pilot of a Diamond DA 20-C1 stated that he was initiating a takeoff on runway 11, a 2,903-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway. As the student pilot increased engine power, he also increased rudder input. During the takeoff roll, the student pilot rotated the airplane about 55 knots, and the nose landing gear lifted off the runway. The right wind then rose up and the airplane yawed to the left. The student pilot tried to correct aileron input; however, he moved the control stick rearward, but not to the side. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and struck an embankment. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to the landing gear, right wing, propeller, and fuselage. The reported wind at an airport 12 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 110 degrees at 7 knots. The student pilot reported a total flight experience of 13.5 hours; all of which was in the make and model accident airplane and accumulated during the 30 days preceding the accident.
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.