Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 172S near Saint Petersburg, FL — 2011-04-13

Final reportERA11CA244
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Date
2011-04-13
Location
Saint Petersburg, FL, USA
Airport
SPG
Aircraft
CESSNA 172S
Registration
N2468Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go landing.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot stated that after takeoff during his second supervised solo flight, he remained in the traffic pattern and landed uneventfully. During the landing roll he elected to perform a touch-and-go landing and applied power for takeoff. Immediately after adding power, the airplane turned left. He applied right rudder to correct the left turn but then decided to perform a full stop landing. He applied the brakes in an effort to keep the airplane on the runway, and reduced power before the airplane departed the runway, and went into water while traveling about 30 knots. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student's certified flight instructor stated that after veering to the left, the airplane exited the runway, crossed a perpendicular runway, and then impacted a ditch at which time he heard power applied. He then observed the airplane travel into the water and ran to the airplane to assist his student. Postaccident inspection of the flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Deciding to perform a touch-and-go instead of a full stop landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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