NTSB Factual Report

On August 25, 2002, about 1005, eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N2291E, registered to Aviation Consultants and Sales Inc., and operated by Wayne Aviation, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, veered off the runway during takeoff at Tarboro, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The student-rated pilot was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Greensboro, North Carolina, the same day, about 0925.

The student stated that he was performing a short cross-country training flight, and during his approach to land he felt that he was a little too high, so he elected to perform a go-around. He said he then made two subsequent approaches to land and performed go-arounds each time because he felt that he was too high, and on his final attempt he was lower, and landed the airplane about 1/3 of the distance down the runway from the approach end. He said that during the landing rollout he then turned the carburetor heat off, but forgot to raise the flaps, and after applying full power to take off, the airplane veered sharply to the left, exiting the runway on to the grass. He said he attempted to use rudder control input to guide the airplane back on to the runway, but it responded slowly, and the airplane impacted some small trees, entered a small ditch, and flipped over incurring damage to the wings. Prior to the accident, there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the airplane or any of its systems.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the solo student to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll/run which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and impacting trees, incurring substantial damage.