SEA98LA011

The student pilot was attempting a touch-and-go on his first solo flight. He stated that he touched down and was applying power for the takeoff when the airplane turned to the left. The pilot applied right rudder pressure; however, the airplane continued to the left. The pilot reduced power to idle as the airplane was leaving the side of the runway. An airport marker sign was directly in front of the airplane and the pilot maneuvered to avoid a head-on collision. The left wing strut collided with the sign and the airplane came to rest off the side of the runway.

On November 6, 1997, approximately 1545 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150H, N695NS, operated by Northstar Air Express as a 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight, collided with an airport marker sign at the Missoula International Airport, Missoula, Montana, while the student pilot was performing a touch-and-go landing. The student pilot was not injured in the occurrence but the airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the aircraft was not on a flight plan.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had practiced three touch-and-go landings with his instructor on board before dropping the instructor off. The pilot then departed for his first solo flight. The pilot stated that during the first landing roll he retracted the flaps, turned the carburetor heat off, and gradually applied full power for the takeoff roll. The pilot stated that everything was normal until just before rotation speed when the airplane turned to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder pressure, however, the airplane continued to travel to the left. Just prior to the airplane departing the side of the runway, the pilot reduced power to idle. The pilot stated that the airplane continued to the left, but not as pronounced. The 3,000 foot runway marker sign was directly ahead of the airplane and the pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid a head-on collision, however, the left wing strut struck the sign and the airplane came to a rest off the side of the runway.

The 1456 Missoula automated weather observation reported winds from 320 degrees at 3 knots. Missoula runway 29 is a 9,499-foot long by 150-foot wide asphalt and porous friction-coated runway. The pilot reported that he had a total of 16.5 flight hours, all received as dual instruction.