MIA99LA167

The student pilot reported he was taking off in a 12 knot, quartering left headwind. He said that at 40 knots indicated airspeed, with full power applied and no aileron input, the airplane began to veer to the left. He applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to the left, veering off the runway onto grass, and collapsing the nose landing gear. Postaccident examination of the flight controls and brakes by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

On June 6, 1999, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704KK, registered to Ormond Beach Aviation, Inc., experienced a loss of directional control during takeoff from the St. Augustine Airport, St. Augustine, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that after landing he secured the airplane then went into a fixed-base operator (FBO) to have paperwork signed which verified the cross-country flight. He then preflighted the airplane and taxied to runway 13, taxiing past the windsock. He performed an engine run-up then taxied onto the runway. He applied full throttle then when at 40 knots, the airplane began veering to the left. He added right rudder to correct and the airplane entered a slight yaw to the right but continued off the left side of the runway. He then reduced power and applied equal brake pressure but the airplane continued off the runway onto grass collapsing the nose landing gear. He further stated that he did not have aileron input applied and reported no previous discrepancies with respect to nose wheel shimmy during the previous flight.

Postaccident examination of the flight controls, and brakes by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

Five automated weather observations taken on the airport beginning at 0935, and ending at 1135 (five minutes after the accident) revealed that the wind was between 080 and 100 degrees, between 12 to 13 knots.