Waterford, MI, USA
N918TA
Cessna 172R
The airplane was operated as an instructional flight when it veered off the runway during landing and nosed over in a grass area adjacent to the runway. The airplane was piloted by a student pilot during a student solo flight. The student pilot and his certified flight instructor performed several landings on runway 27L before the student pilot departed on the solo flight. The student pilot departed from runway 27R and performed a go-around on his first landing attempt on runway 27R; reportedly because, he could not "get the plane on centerline" and the presence of a "slight" crosswind. The student pilot completed the go-around and attempted again to land on runway 27R. During the level off, the student pilot stated that he held left aileron control into the wind and noted that the nose was yawed to the left. The airplane touched down with a "crab," veered off the runway, and nosed over.
On July 13, 2006, at 1106 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N918TA, operated by Tradewinds Aviation Inc. as an instructional airplane, impacted terrain during landing on runway 27R (5,000 feet by 100 feet, asphalt/porous friction courses) at Oakland County International Airport (PTK), Waterford, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 student solo instructional flight was not operating on a flight plan. The student pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from PTK about 1030. The student pilot stated that he arrived at Tradewinds Aviation Inc. for flight training at 0830. The student pilot and his certified flight instructor (CFI) departed from runway 27L, remained in the airport traffic pattern, and performed 5 landings. The CFI then exited the airplane, and the student pilot departed and performed two solo take off and landings from runway 27L. The student pilot then departed from runway 27R and was instructed by air traffic control to land on runway 27R. The student pilot stated that he performed a go-around since he "felt a slight crosswind" and "could not get the airplane on centerline." He then entered the traffic pattern for runway 27R for another landing attempt. He stated that on final, the descent was "fine" and the airspeed was "good." The student pilot stated that as he began to level off, he held left aileron into the wind. The student pilot stated that the nose yawed to the left when he reduced power and "felt" ground effect. He stated that during landing, the airplane was "somewhat" crabbed and began to turn left. He stated that he tried to correct by applying the left rudder pedal, but the airplane went into the grass and flipped. The PTK Automated Surface Observing System recorded winds for the following times: 0853: 000 at 0 knots 0953: 170 degrees at 7 knots 1111: variable at 4 knots 1153: 170 degrees at 8 knots
The directional control not obtained/maintained, the inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and the go-around not performed during landing by the pilot. An additional cause was the lack of experience by the pilot. A contributing factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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