What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 01/31/2026 at Augusta Municipal Airport, Augusta, KS (3AU). A student pilot conducting initial solo flight landing on runway 36. After completing a taxi back procedure to the beginning of runway 36 the student pilot made a radio call to enter the runway 36 for takeoff to remain in the pattern. Student pilot applied full power and failed to input adequate rudder pressure; aircraft started to veer to the left of the runway. The aircraft departed the runway into the grass attempted to rotated however the aircraft returned to the ground. Pilot applied brakes hit snow on the grass and flipped upside down.
As the FAA filed it
ON 01/31/2026 AT AUGUSTA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, AUGUSTA, KS (3AU). A STUDENT PILOT CONDUCTING INITIAL SOLO FLIGHT LANDING ON RUNWAY 36. AFTER COMPLETING A TAXI BACK PROCEDURE TO THE BEGINNING OF RUNWAY 36 THE STUDENT PILOT MADE A RADIO CALL TO ENTER THE RUNWAY 36 FOR TAKEOFF TO REMAIN IN THE PATTERN. STUDENT PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND FAILED TO INPUT ADEQUATE RUDDER PRESSURE; AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS ATTEMPTED TO ROTATED HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO THE GROUND. PILOT APPLIED BRAKES HIT SNOW ON THE GRASS AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.