The student pilot reported that during his first solo flight in the pattern at the airport in Akron, Colorado, he aborted the first landing because he was uncomfortable with the Cirrus SR20’s runway alignment.
During the subsequent approach, the airplane was crabbed slightly to the right.
He recalled that just before the airplane touched down, he applied left rudder and the airplane bounced. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and hit a drainage culvert and nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.
The student reported that the wind at the time of the accident was reported as calm.
The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a drainage culvert.
This March 2019 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.
Years ago when I was working on my commercial at the Oak Grove Airport. ( just south of Fort Worth) one of my instructors [ MKF] told me about another student. He knew I was working my CFI too.
This student flew well and was nearly ready to solo if landings could be consistent.
He told the student solo was 3 consistent landings. ” You couldn’t do worse if you closed your eyes.”
The replace was ” I do close my eyes!”
At 10-15 feet the FLARE was begun and eyes closed. CE150s are really forgiving.
Hint. The little mirror let’s the CFI see the students eyes.
Prolonging the FLARE and flying 1 ft. AGL and the first 3rd of the runway teaches attitude control of pitch, yaw , bank and power.
A grease pencil mark on the windscreen before takeoff in a ” airplane.”
This mark in the shape of a cross directly in front of the pilot with the on ground pitch on the horizon can/ will keep pilot’s from imagining a crossword when there isn’t. It will also show landing pitch whether nose or tailwheel.
I’ve never head of that. That’s a great idea!
I’m surprised they didn’t mention CFI that signed this student pilot off.
Agreed on CFI oversight. Remember when we used to be PIC as CFIs even when student was solo? Glad that reg. changed!
Yes but as you know it’s not just landing pitch that is important but control of the airplane’s descent performance. Rate of descent getting close to zero, mains within inches of the runway, and safe landing pitch all need to happen simultaneously.
Don’t teach landindings with touch and goes.
If and when ppl possible teach stable approaches down to 1 foot. Then add just a little power and maintain landing attitude for 1/3 the runway length.
Practice NOT crashing down BUT practice slips and pitch& power to stay aligned 1 ft off the runway. If the runway is 100-200 feet wide slip left and right upwind and downwind.
Just a few of these = 100s of crash and goes.
At a controlled airport request the option.
Fly the airplane and the rudder.
Point out adding power requires rudder and pitching up requires rudder so the wheels are always inline with direction of travel. And inadvertent touch down is just a landing.
Demonstrate once or twice then have student ( who could be an ATP or even a CFI , getting a flight review on where to look ( grease pencil ) They often will be supprised they have been landing grabbed in an imaginary crosswind.