NTSB Factual Report

On December 8, 2001, about 1615 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N12521, was substantially damaged while attempting a takeoff from Portage County Airport, Ravenna, Ohio. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, solo training flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the student pilot, he had flown with his flight instructor earlier in the day for about 2.5 hours. He then made a solo flight, remaining in the traffic pattern and practicing takeoffs and landings. The pilot then elected to make a short field takeoff. In the NTSB Accident Report, he further stated:

"...As I was taxiing onto the runway, I powered up and began lifting the nose off the ground. As power increased, I was not aligned straight with the runway. The plane was going left and I punched right rudder to compensate, but more than required. I [then] overcompensated with left rudder and toward the left side [of the runway]. The plane began to lift off but it was only ground effect and settled back down. The plane went off the runway and into the grass. Once in the grass, I pulled the throttle back to power down. The plane rolled on the sod with no complication until came to a ditch. Upon colliding with the ditch, the nose gear was broken off and the prop struck the dirt...."

The airplane came to rest with the nose landing gear separated from the fuselage. In addition, the lower portion of the firewall was ripped open.

The pilot reported that the winds were calm.

In addition, the pilot reported his total flight experience as about 39 hours with 6 hours solo.

NTSB Probable Cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control.