The flight instructor reported that this was her fifth instructional flight with the student and that they were practicing takeoffs and landings in the pattern at the airport in Cornelia, Georgia. She recalled that the previous landing accomplished by the student was “squirrelly.”
She reminded the student pilot “how and why not to use the pedals during the landing roll, and to stay off of the brakes.”
She recalled that the student completed the next approach and landing and both were stable.
However, during the landing roll, the Cessna 172 made an abrupt right turn, and exited the right side of the runway about the midpoint of the 5,500′ long by 100′ wide runway.
The flight instructor reported that she did not believe that she would be able to bring the airplane back to the left and aborted the landing.
However, the plane hit rising terrain, entered a 360° turn, and hit an embankment.
The flight instructor asked the student if he had his feet on the pedals during the landing roll, and he replied “I think so.”
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s unnecessary pedal application and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action resulting in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and ground impact during the aborted landing.
NTSB Identification: GAA16CA316
This June 2016 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.
I can’t add to Mr. Macklin’s comments .. they are ‘right on’ …I use the term, “spring loaded”, when it comes to mental readiness during the landing (and takeoff) phase on the part of the instructor. I will habitually be in that attitude and state even when flying with an experienced pilot during a flight review, etc. It has become an instinctual habit. Feet of the rudders ?? …huh ??
This person is “not” an instructor, regardless of what her credentials say!!! Not at all..
Clarify please? Did the flight instructor teach the student to stay off the pedals during landing, and did the NTSB put “the student pilot’s unnecessary pedal application” as the probable cause?
I am with DH here. I guess directional control during landing is managed by telekinesis these days.
At least they didn’t run out of fuel!!
An instructor must be prepared to block a students misapplication of the controls without riding the controls and preventing the student from learning. The instructor, whether instructing take offs and landings, multiengine or basic airwork or taxiing must be prepared for the student to do something wrong, silly or even dangerous.
Rushing a student through basics, before they understand why a maneuver is done leaves a student at a low level of learning and ilprepared for a departure from the expected. Gusts, engine failure, or any other unexpected event is a learning experience for student and instructor. The instructor should have their feet off the rudder pedals, hands off the controls but very close, ready to block or take control.
An instructor should coach a student. asking questions about what they are doing, why they are doings it and what might happen to alter the flight such as changes in the wind, a flat tire, a car or deer entering the runway… keep the student thinking.
The Instructor should have been on top of this situation
before it gets out of hand
So, I guess the CFI’s teaching technique is to keep your feet OFF the rudder pedals during landing. If he’d have JUST kept his feet on the floor, this could’ve been prevented!
They must be teaching some new stuff since I learned to fly.