• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
General Aviation NewsGeneral Aviation News

General Aviation News

Because flying is cool

  • Pictures of the Day
    • Submit Picture of the Day
  • Stories
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Products
    • NTSB Accidents
    • ASRS Reports
  • Comments
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ad
  • Events
  • Print Archives
  • Subscribe
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Soft field takeoff goes awry for student pilot

By NTSB · September 26, 2014 ·

Aircraft: Jabiru Sport. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Goshen, Ind. Aircraft damage: Destroyed.

What reportedly happened: The student pilot was attempting a soft-field takeoff, and as soon as the nose wheel lifted off the runway, the airplane veered to the left.

The student pilot tried to correct the left turn by applying right rudder and aileron but was unsuccessful.

The airplane went off the runway and came to rest, nose down on a parallel taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine nose wheel area, both wings, and the fuselage.

Probable cause: The student pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.

NTSB Identification: CEN12CA663

This August 2012 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.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

Reader Interactions

Share this story

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit Share on Reddit
  • Share via Email Share via Email

NTSB Report - One Accident. One Lesson.

NTSB Report delivers one NTSB accident report per email, Monday through Friday — so pilots can learn from real-world outcomes. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


Curious to know what fellow pilots think on random stories on the General Aviation News website? Click on our Recent Comments page to find out. Read our Comment Policy here.

Comments

  1. Ron Raty says

    September 29, 2014 at 10:18 am

    Assuming the left wheel dug in to the soft surface, what would the proper take off procedure be to avoid this?

    I used to live in Alaska, and I don’t recall seeing any tricycle bush planes. Maybe this is why.

Primary Sidebar

Read the Latest Issue

Cover of the September 17, 2026 edition of General Aviation News
September 17, 2026

Featured Video

https://youtu.be/_5GlVdS1gpo?si=PEX8RGgp1XCz3-uM

Become A Better Informed Pilot.

Join 110,000 readers each month and get the latest news and entertainment from the world of general aviation direct to your inbox, daily.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Comments

  • Art Friedman on Five Things Your GA Airport Manager Wishes You Knew
  • Are Cee on In-Flight Weather Radar Is Failing General Aviation
  • Javier Lifa on In-Flight Weather Radar Is Failing General Aviation
  • Thomas J Young on Fuel-Oil Contamination Leads to Cessna 172 Engine Power Loss
  • Mark Gibson on Picture of the Day: Cycling Past College Park Airport
  • Andrew J Venuto on Fuel-Oil Contamination Leads to Cessna 172 Engine Power Loss
  • ERIC TAYLOR on What I Learned Towing Banners
  • jimh in ca on Fuel-Oil Contamination Leads to Cessna 172 Engine Power Loss
  • Jamie Beckett on Five Things Your GA Airport Manager Wishes You Knew
  • Robert B on Five Things Your GA Airport Manager Wishes You Knew

© 2026 Flyer Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Comment Policy
  • Submit Press Release
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Photographer’s Guidelines