Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Wichita, Kan. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The student pilot, accompanied by a CFI, was practicing takeoffs and landings. When the airplane touched down on the second landing, it veered sharply to the right.
The CFI took control of the plane and tried to stop the turn by applying full left rudder.
The CFI said that the rudder pedal felt excessively stiff and that the airplane went off the side of the runway and into a dirt berm.
The post-accident examination of the airplane revealed there were a lot of loose objects in the airplane, but there was no physical evidence that the rudder pedals had been jammed or impeded.
Further examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
NTSB Identification: CEN12CA315
This May 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.
