The flight instructor said the student pilot’s landing was not stabilized, so the CFI stated “my controls” and assumed control of the airplane.
However, according to the CFI, the student did not release the right rudder pressure and the Cessna 172 exited the right side of the paved portion of the runway, hit a taxiway sign, and subsequently hit another airplane on the adjacent taxiway at the airport in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The landing airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose and left wing. The taxiing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar.
Probable cause: The landing airplane pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground collision with a taxiing airplane.
NTSB Identification: GAA15CA064B
This May 2015 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.
How do you lock a rudder? New to me
The student stepped on the brake , as he would have done in an automobile .
I’m missing something here – How do you “lock” the rudder? And perhaps more importantly, Why the hell would you?
Why? Panic response. How? Stomp on the rudder without realizing it. More ‘Why’? Because of negative transference of habit from operating a car where we might stomp on the brake in a threatening situation. The student was reported to have difficulty with his landings. A 13 kt direct crosswind would likely have been stressful for him.
Good answer, John. Nail on the head.
A good whack across the chops would have likely caused the student pilot to release all controls. Best he sustain some minor but painful damage to his face rather than risk something far more serious like killing himself and/or the CFI and damaging his and other airplanes which did occur.
This is a very good example of how a student might unintentionally or otherwise attempt to kill the CFI. A student who locks the rudder by tromping on the pedal would make it tough to maintain directional control under the best of circumstances. With a 13 kt direct cross wind… and a relatively short/narrow runway… big problem for the CFI. Would the locked rudder be noticeable by the CFI (flying pilot) prior to wheels down?