This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
A private pilot and myself were conducting a training flight to check him out in a Beechcraft Musketeer. He had previously done all of his flight training in a C-172, and had the goal of getting checked out in a low-wing aircraft for rent. I was acting as the flight instructor supervising for the flight.
The pilot and I had flown for an hour on the previous day, with no unordinary events. We worked on maneuvers and did a couple landings. The student was able to keep the aircraft straight and under control on all landing rolls prior to the event.
The runway excursion occurred on the student’s last landing of the training event. The touchdown was safely executed until the student let out all the back pressure on the yoke. I had anticipated the action and caught the yoke to protect the nosewheel, when the student proceeded to lock up the right brake.
We began to drift towards the right side of the runway, while I urged him to relax off the brake to allow the aircraft to track straight. As I said “My plane,” the student locked up on the rudder pedals and yanked the yoke to full left aileron. This resulted in the right wing “flying” us 180° and facing us towards the left side of the runway.
I was able to wrestle the right wing back to the ground as we entered the grass and pulled the mixture to kill the engine.
The student wouldn’t relinquish controls and continued to lock the brakes and freeze on the throttle all while I was calling for control of the airplane. We ran into the grass and slid to a stop with both brakes locked up.
I secured the aircraft and shut it down, and we both exited the aircraft safely. There was ultimately no damage to the aircraft or to property.
The event was a result of the private pilot failing to relinquish control of the aircraft. Instead of releasing the locked brake, he continued to drag the brake and locked up the other, while trying to “steer” away from the right side of the runway.
The private pilot was also around the age of 60, which seemed to delay his reactions to my instructions.
Additionally, I had just taught the student to use differential rudder pressure, as he was stomping rudder inputs as needed. I believe this may have led to him landing without his heels on the floor, factoring to the dragging of the initial right brake.
I believe this event was the result of human reaction. The best prevention is to better brief and practice positive exchange of flight controls, and remind students to keep their heels on the floor during landing.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 195494
To the criticizing party. Have you ever had a student or even a license pilot completely freeze on the controls? Not a pretty picture. Unfortunately for me, I have experience a student locking up and they they grip is like iron. In the few seconds you have that close to the ground or even on the ground is crucial to have the student let go of the controls once the student has frozen. We are talking milliseconds here so beware of your criticisms.
I think that the ASRS program is indispensable in that it gives us the opportunity to read about honest mistakes that happened to the “other guy” and, hopefully, not repeat them ourselves. I fully respect the honesty of reporting individuals (knowing, of course) that it also provides some protection from FAA actions. It’s tough to criticize, but there lessons to be learned. I think that some of the other “criticizing parties” responses here are strongly worded; however, they’re correct.
“I was acting as the flight instructor supervising for the flight.” “Acting” as the flight instructor? “Supervising”? What does that mean? Who had the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the training flight? This reads as if that was possibly in doubt. If it occurred as written, the “supervisor” grabbing the yoke during the flare – without taking full control – probably started this unfortunate chain of events. In his last paragraph, he appears to admit this. You have to expect the unexpected and you should be working harder than the student to provide useful and safe instruction.
Lastly, “The private pilot was also around the age of 60, which seemed to delay his reactions to my instructions.” Hmm. I flew beyond age 60 in the airlines on B-777 aircraft and still instruct on GA aircraft years after retirement . Many have and do at present. Does the author really believe it was age related?
Wow it takes an exceptional (in a bad way) CFI … who is by definition PILOT IN COMMAND when he is being paid to teach anyone…anything…
To Blame the student.
I’ve NEVER READ a C.Y.A. write up quite as blatant as this one, intended solely on dumping the responsibility for the CFI’s either complete incompetence, or lack of focus on their job at the moment…..on the student.
And please understand, regardless of whether the “PILOT” was a licensed pilot or a student pilot …the moment he “hired” this CFI to do transition training in a plane he wasn’t familiar with to learn how to fly it …
The CFI was the SOLE, and RESPONSIBLE, PILOT IN COMMAND.
This is total BS from a CFI … that screwed the pooch and tried to blame his student for his F#$# UP.
Was there an actual CFI? WAS it the owner checking out a low one pilot?
Does this publication have an editor that can correct the author’s usage of the English language? “A private pilot and myself”! Why not “A private pilot and I”?
At the top of the article it clearly says, “The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials” (or other editors).
You do not say how much flight time the student had. Was he current before flying with you. A musketeer is a different aircraft compared to a 172 and it takes more then an hour to get us to the differences between the two aircraft.
Most insurance companies require a checkout of at least 5 hours in type….
Did you demonstrate a landing to him?
As the instructor you are pilot in command PIC and the FAA will find that you are responsible and did not react fast enough to prevent the accident
He obviously did freeze and was way over his head in this aircraft………
I will say again a Musketeer is literally a truck compared to a 172. Excess speed on final can lead to wheel borrowing on landing……
The main thing is no one was hurt and the aircraft was not seriously damaged.
BTW how much flight time do you have in the Musketeer……
did you sign him off?
😂