Stockton, CA, USA
N78239
Cessna 172
The solo student pilot reported that, during departure and before rotation, the airplane veered left, and he applied opposite rudder, but the airplane impacted a taxiway sign. The nose landing gear separated from the firewall, and the airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest upright in a field adjacent to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall structural plate and the lower firewall flange. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The solo student pilot reported that during a touch and go landing roll, he reduced the throttle to idle, attempted to retract the flaps, but could have moved the flaps to the down position, and he turned off the carburetor heat. During departure, prior to rotation, the airplane veered to the left and he applied opposite rudder, but the airplane impacted a taxiway sign. The nose landing gear separated from the firewall and the airplane exited the runway to the left and came to rest upright in a field adjacent to the runway. The pilot added that he was not familiar to the airplane's flap system. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall structural plate and the lower firewall flange. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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