The flight instructor reported that, during takeoff, the solo student pilot realized he had a crosswind from the right and applied right aileron and right rudder.
He added that, as the student rotated the Cessna 172, it drifted left. The student then lost control, pulled the engine power to idle, and aborted the takeoff.
Subsequently, during touchdown, the plane veered hard to the left and exited the runway, and the nose landing gear collapsed.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage.
The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The automated weather observation system at the airport in Glendale, Arizona, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm. The student pilot was departing from Runway 1.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain runway alignment during takeoff, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway excursion.
NTSB Identification: GAA18CA253
This May 2018 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
If a student is just learning to deal with crosswind takeoffs and landings why is the CFI just sitting there not ready to take control quickly when trouble starts? Isn’t that the point of having him/her sitting in the right seat?
Since he is identified as a solo student pilot in the article, I am assuming the CFI wasn’t in the aircraft with him but maybe was watching him from the ground.
Digging a bit deeper and actually reading the full NTSB report indicates your assumption to be correct.
the report said “winds were calm”
Wind calm is steady at 5kts as opposed to 26kts-gusting 43kts which is “wind irrate”…it’s a local thing….lol