Erie, CO, USA
N617EV
Evektor-Aerotechnik AS Sportstar Plus
After the student pilot rotated the airplane for a simulated soft field takeoff, it began to drift to the right side of the runway and was slow to gain airspeed. He lowered the nose in an attempt to increase airspeed, but the airplane continued to drift to the right. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and pulled back on the control yoke to climb in an attempt to clear a house adjacent to the runway. The right wing clipped the roof and the airplane descended, impacted the driveway, slid across the street, and struck a stop sign. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
According to the instructor’s accident report, the student was making a soft field takeoff on runway 33 with 15 degrees flaps deployed. As the airplane was rotated, it began to drift to the right side of the runway and was slow to gain airspeed because it was in the takeoff configuration. The student pilot lowered the nose in an attempt to increase airspeed, but the airplane continued to drift to the right. The instructor took control, felt resistance in the control yoke, and called for full control. The instructor pulled back on the control yoke to climb in an attempt and clear a house adjacent to the runway. The right wing clipped a portion of the roof, impacted the driveway, and slid across the street, striking a stop sign at a road intersection. Postaccident examination of the airplane failed to show any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The student pilot’s improper performance of a soft field takeoff procedure, which resulted in a loss of airplane control, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action to correct the situation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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