| Crash location | 43.834444°N, 84.740000°W |
| Nearest city | Clare, MI
43.819470°N, 84.768628°W 1.8 miles away |
| Tail number | N693SA |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 14 Feb 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 172 |
| Additional details: | None |
On February 14, 2003, at 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N693SA, operated by American Wings Academy, sustained substantial damage when it veered off runway 8 (2,500 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) during takeoff roll at Clare Municipal Airport (48D), Clare, Michigan. The student pilot was not injured. The Title 14 Part 91 solo cross country instructional flight was departing 48D en route to Bishop International Airport (FNT), Flint, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was on a VFR flight plan.
The student pilot, who had a total of 38 hours of flight time, reported that she "pulled the nose up too soon" during takeoff. The airplane veered to the left as she tried to lower the nose. She reduced power but was unable to prevent the airplane from departing the runway and hitting a snow bank on the left side of the runway.
The student pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff roll. A factor was the snow bank.