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.
I am a CFI. I took a person on a discovery flight they had purchased. The plane that was used was owned by the FBO and was an Evektor Sportstar.
Before and during the flight, I briefed the person on various safety procedures, including the three-way exchange of controls and keeping his feet on the ground during takeoff and landing so as to not touch the brakes.
During the final landing at the end of the flight, I had control of the aircraft and landed on the runway. Immediately after touchdown, the discovery flight customer held the left brake, sending the plane aggressively to the east side of the runway and into the grass.
After several attempts to tell the passenger to take their foot off the brake, they released the brake. At that point we were about 10 feet into the grass. I choose to keep the stick back and slowly brake so as not to slide on the wet grass.
We safely made it to the taxiway turnoff after paralleling the runway in the grass for what I would say is six seconds.
There was no visible damage to the plane and both the discovery flight customer and I were completely fine with no injuries.
I believe what can be done to prevent a similar occurrence in the future is to have a dedicated time before the flight to talk and brief the customer more in-depth on safety procedures.
Additionally, on the final approach, I could have reminded the passenger once more to keep their feet on the ground and off the brakes throughout the entire landing and touchdown phase.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 1967544
Give me a break on the brakes, guys! Like the instructor told him to keep his “feet on the ground”. Think how safe he would have been.
Student beginner pilots need to learn new muscle memory when learning flight controls. You can’t steer the plane on the ground with the ailerons and you don’t brake with your left foot as in a car. Carry over from years in a car may have been the cause.
rwyerosk, “No BREAKS”, do you mean that the student is not allowed to rest or relax???? How would that declaration on your part insure that the student would not be nervous enough to panic and push on the BRAKES. Please explain your rationale.
The OP’s story is good guidance for ANY pilot who ever takes any non-pilot on any flight. You just don’t know what you don’t know…or what your passengers don’t know. The passenger doesn’t know, either.
Many of us have seen an unexpected reaction from a passenger or two… usually just amusing, but thanks for the reminder that the next time it could be more serious.
You can always hear the cries of a time builder, I did everything right, it’s not my fault.
Wow. Why is everyone so critical? The CFI did what he should have done and made this report for the benefit of everyone’s safety.
I thank him for reminding me of the importance of reminding passengers in the front seat not to touch the controls including the pedals on the floor. The passengers could be completely unaware of the pedals on the floor. Many passengers display a heightened anxiety as the plane approaches the runway and the actual speed over the ground becomes very apparent.
There are fatal accidents where a student grabs the control and freezes or yanks them in a critical phase. How would someone predict this behavior?
Safety is sacrosanct. Can we please just all just get around the never-ending priority of safety?
I totally agree with You, Mr. Ace. The report is very valuable for every pilot or CFI who gives discovery flights. If any behavior from the pilot was, presumably (and I say “presumably” to those who dare to criticize the author of the report) committed, it acts like a valuable lesson for the others,
Your judgmental, self-righteous attitude raises serious questions about your ability to effectively communicate in a multi-crew environment, and therefore poses a serious risk to safety of flight. I wouldn’t even consider taking a flight with you.
Had there been an accident the FAA would hold the instructor accountable. Yes it happens and I learned long ago to be sure the student is up to the landing phase and on final to simply say NO BREAKS……….Possible on the ground confused comment confused him……? The experience level of this student is unknown….
‘Ground’? Did you mean ‘floor’? Maybe that was part of the confusion for the student.
He did brief the passenger.
The passenger screwed up.
I used to give scenic flights and often found the front seat passenger putting his/her feet on the rudder pedals after telling then not to touch anything.
It’s a screwup, it happens. Fortunately it was just a fun ride through the grass and nobody got hurt and nothing was bent.
Are you kidding,, needing more time? There is “no time limit” for safety. You as the “PIC” has a duty to communicate to your passenger (s) the safety procedures before the flight, and as you the “PIC” has the last word for a “go, no go” flight. If, there any inkling of the passenger not understanding the rules then you abort the flight. It’s your responsibility! And as a instructor you should have known this, which tells me what other “lacks” items do you do before any flight! Again “Safety” is no slouch co-pilot”. This makes me think twice about taking a flight with you.