NTSB Factual Report

On August 24, 2001, at 1727 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161 single-engine airplane, N81833, was substantially damaged when it impacted a drainage pipe following a loss of control during takeoff roll at the Ardmore Downtown Executive Airport, Ardmore, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to and operated by the North American Flight Academy of Denton, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed but not activated for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The solo cross-country flight originated from Denton, Texas, at 1530.

The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. According to his written statement, he had landed on runway 17, retracted the flaps and applied full throttle. He then realized that he was left of the runway centerline. He applied right rudder to correct the situation, then "applied too much left rudder to straighten the plane's roll causing the plane to veer to the left." The left main landing gear departed the runway surface. The airplane was headed toward a taxiway light, so the pilot "steered the plane into the infield grass area." The airplane struck a drainpipe, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop upright on the taxiway. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane sustained damage to its firewall.

NTSB Probable Cause

the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff roll.