LAX00LA149

The student pilot was on his third solo flight, his first unsupervised. After applying power for a short field takeoff, the student aborted and the airplane began to veer to the left side of the runway. A runway light was hit as the airplane moved into the unpaved area adjacent to the airstrip. In order to decelerate the airplane, the student pulled back on the controls, but the airplane floated before settling again. The airplane continued through the unpaved area and impacted on the taxiway surface where the nose gear collapsed. The short field takeoffs were requested by the instructor prior to the flight. The student's logbooks indicate that he received instruction in short field takeoff procedures on April 8 and 10, 2000.

On April 11, 2000, at 0910 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-38-112, N2500T, veered off the runway and collided with multiple obstacles at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was being operated as an instructional flight by Golden Eagle Aviation, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight was originating from Fresno Yosemite International Airport at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene of the accident, the pilot was on his first unsupervised solo flight. His instructor had requested that on this flight he perform a series of short field takeoffs. The pilot stated that he began his first takeoff by holding the brakes, running up the engine, and then releasing the brakes. After reaching 53 knots, he rotated but overcontrolled, and the aircraft began to float prematurely. He decided to abort, and, as the aircraft touched down, he lost directional control and it began to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and the aircraft continued veering left, eventually striking a runway light. He attempted to decelerate by holding the control wheel back; however, the aircraft now became airborne over taxiway Golf. When it touched down again, it rolled across a dirt infield until reaching taxiway Kilo (2,900 feet from the approach end of runway 29L). As the aircraft was clearing Kilo, it rolled over a lip at the edge of the taxiway. The aircraft dropped about 1 foot onto the ramp area collapsing the nose gear and damaging the prop, engine mounts, and firewall.

Surface winds were variable at 4 knots.

The pilot's logbook reflected that he had received dual instruction in short field takeoffs on April 8 and 10, 2000.