CHI02LA045

The airplane contacted a runway light with the left wing following a loss of directional control during the takeoff phase of a touch and go landing. The student pilot reported the airplane touched down 1/3 (1,800 feet) down the runway during the landing. He reported the airplane veered to the left when he applied power for takeoff. He reported he reduced the power to idle and attempted to stop the airplane, but it continued off the side of the runway where it contacted the runway light. The landing was being made on runway 31. The winds reported at the airport 5 minutes after the accident were from 160 degrees at 11 knots. The pilot reported the winds were from 140 degrees at 10 knots. The student pilot had a total flight time of 31 hours and was on a solo cross-country flight when the accident occurred.

On December 3, 2001, at 1410 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N248ND, operated by the University of North Dakota, collided with a runway light during a touch and go landing. The accident occurred while the student pilot was landing on runway 31 (5,509 feet by 150 feet, dry asphalt) at the Devils Lake Municipal Airport, Devils Lake, North Dakota. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed for the solo cross-country flight. The flight originated from Grand Forks, North Dakota, at 1300.

The student pilot reported that he received the local weather from the automated weather observing system upon arriving in the Devils Lake area. He then circled the airport to check the windsock prior to entering the traffic pattern for runway 31. The pilot reported the airplane touched down approximately 1/3 (approximatley 1,800 feet) down the runway during the landing. He reported the airplane veered to the left when he applied full power for the takeoff portion of the touch and go. The pilot reported he reduced the power to idle and attempted to stop the airplane; however, it continued off the side of the runway where it contacted a runway light with the left wing.

The winds reported at Devils Lake Municipal Airport at 1415, were from 160 degrees at 11 knots. The pilot reported the winds were from 140 degrees at 10 knots.