NTSB Factual Report

On September 22, 2004, at approximately 1730 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5338H, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain during takeoff from Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), Provo, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local solo-instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the student pilot, he was attempting a soft-field takeoff on runway 31. He stated that when he taxied onto the runway, he continued to roll further down the runway to allow a landing airplane to clear the runway. After the runway was clear, he applied full power. He stated that the "airplane did not respond as earlier in [the] day" and it "did not climb as expected." The airplane pitched up and veered off the left side of the runway. He said he was "too low to push [the] nose down to increase airspeed." The airplane's left wing dropped and struck the ground. The airplane spun around to the left, the nose and right wing struck the ground and the airplane came to a stop on a heading of approximately 070 degrees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the engine and right wing strut were separated from the fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's premature liftoff which resulted in failure to attain airspeed which resulted in a stall.