The student pilot reported that during the landing roll at the airport in Perry, N.Y., he heard something fall in the back seat. He looked back and when he looked forward again the Piper PA 28-140 had veered to the right.
He attempted to correct with the rudder, but reported that he “overcorrected” to the left and then to the right, and then “hammered” on the brakes.
Subsequently the airplane skid off the runway to the right and hit a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot was not injured.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain vigilance, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll.
NTSB Identification: GAA16CA037
This October 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.
You’re not done “flying the plane” until you stop moving.
Lets get real here. The student heard something fall from the back. I have landed a thousand or so times, what could be so heavy in the back seat that you heard it falling while on the landing roll in a Piper PA 28? Those things are very noisy and with head phones on…well think about this. What am I going to tell the FAA? It had to be a elephant? No he is not allowed to carry passengers. I’m just not buying this story.
Most dents, scrapes and landing gear damage happen during taxi phase. Not sure students are aprised of that phase well enough.
Let’s hope nothing ever falls off the back seat of his/her car, someone else may die too. Fly the airplane, drive the car, FOCUS, don’t be distracted from the only thing that’s important in this moment.
Very True Bartr!!!!! Always FLY the airplane FIRST and worry about that other stuff when you are stopped and the same applies for driving for sure.