This October 2010 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.
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Wabash, Ind. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The CFI and student had been practicing touch-and-go landings and were planning a full-stop landing. The airplane touched down on the grass airstrip slightly faster than normal and approximately 100 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. The CFI took the controls and applied brakes. As the plane approached the end of the runway, the CFI applied left rudder to avoid a ditch. The right main landing gear went into the ditch and the airplane flipped over.
The CFI reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. He further stated that they should have landed on the adjacent asphalt runway or performed a go-around after overshooting the final approach leg during the landing.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during the landing and the CFI’s failure to execute a go-around.
For more information: NTSB.gov. NTSB Identification: CEN11CA004
