Aviation Accident Summary CHI08CA159

Athens, OH, USA

Aircraft #1

N230U

Cessna 172P

Analysis

The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the paved runway surface and struck a ditch, resulting in damage to the firewall and forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was his first solo flight without an instructor aboard. Immediately prior to the accident flight, the student and his instructor had made a flight which included landing practice. Subsequent to the accident flight, the instructor endorsed the student pilot's logbook authorizing the solo flight. The student pilot reported that he flew a traffic pattern approach to landing. After touchdown, he inadvertently added power to do a touch and go rather than a full stop landing. Upon realizing that he was to make a full stop landing, he reduced power and applied the brakes. He reported that the nose wheel began to shimmy, and he applied the brakes harder. The airplane subsequently went off the side of the runway into the grass, and struck a ditch before coming to a stop.

Factual Information

The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the paved runway surface and then struck a ditch. The nose landing was torn from the airplane resulting in damage to the firewall and forward fuselage. The student pilot reported that the accident flight was his first solo flight without an instructor pilot on-board. Immediately prior to the accident flight the student and his instructor had performed a flight which included landing practice. Subsequent to this flight, the instructor pilot endorsed the student pilot's logbook authorizing the solo flight. The student pilot reported that he then took off and flew a traffic pattern approach to landing. After touchdown, the student pilot inadvertently added power to execute a touch and go rather than the full stop landing. Upon realizing that he was to execute a full stop landing, the student pilot reduced power and applied the brakes. He reported that the nose wheel began to shimmy and he applied the brakes harder. The airplane subsequently went off the side of the runway into the grass and then struck a ditch before coming to a stop.

Probable Cause and Findings

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor contributing to the accident was a nose wheel vibration.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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