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.
It was morning. METAR stated clear skies and calm winds. I did two warm-up laps in the traffic pattern during dual flight training with my instructor in a Cessna Skyhawk 172. We noticed some turbulence on the downwind.
My instructor was happy with my traffic pattern flying and cleared me for my first solo flight.
I dropped my instructor off and followed ATC instructions to rejoin the pattern.
PIREPS are coming in the radio for turbulence and some crosswinds for Runway XXL and XXR. I felt a strong wind push from the right, drifting me off my course on my takeoff and upwind leg. I fly the pattern as usual with not much issues.
On my final approach into Runway XXL I caught myself thinking about how I am now 100% responsible for this landing and my instructor is no longer around to get me out of small mistakes that can turn into big ones. This sparked some fear in me as I approach the runway and clouded some of my decision-making skills.
Regardless of the crosswind giving me a harder time keeping my centerline with the runway, I still felt my approach was stable.
I believe towards the start of my round out, I over compensated for the right pushing wind and ended up too far to the right of the runway. I noticed this and I began correcting to go back to centerline, so I added left rudder input.
I had to begin my flare but the nose of the plane was still facing too far to the left. I again correct for this by adding right rudder, but by this time I was touching down.
As soon as the wheels hit the ground the plane veered to the right hard. I feared that I would deviate into the parallel Runway XXR and instinctually slammed on the brakes, causing the propeller to strike the runway.
I released the brake to correct for this and the plane started veering to the left. I add right rudder input but due to the stressful situation, I mistakenly depress the right brakes, which causes the right wing to dip down.
I release the right brakes in fear of the wing striking the runway and catching on fire. In doing so the plane continued to veer left and ran off the runway.
I was able to avoid all the runway lights and indicators and came to a full stop in the gravel area in front of the Tower.
I performed emergency shut down and exited per ATC instructions.
The aircraft sustained damages to its propeller.
I checked the METAR after the flight and the winds were no longer reported calm and showed variable.
Thinking back I wish I would have aborted the landing when I was too far to the right of the centerline. I could have set myself up for a more centered landing having a better idea of the wind conditions.
Secondly, I realize I need to work on rudder control on touchdown and rollout. I need to train myself out of defaulting to the brakes in a situation like that. Had I stayed off the brakes and made small corrections with rudder and ailerons, I might have saved that landing.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 2106204
On the day of my solo in 1975, my instructor and I practiced landings on runway 13. When I dropped him off, the tower had me use runway 22. That put the crosswind from the opposite side and on my first touchdown, the plane was sideways enough to slide the tires. I reacted with rudder and aileron to straighten it out and continued the touch-and-go. The next two landings were much better. I don’t think I was as ready as my instructor thought I was at 8.5 hours.
What a shame that students are being short changed on their training to become pilots. I earned my PPL in 1977 in Midland Tx, I was taught how to handle cross winds, spin training, turbulence, cross country map reading , rudder control, how to slip, how to crab, unusual attitudes, emergency landings…….etc…..now days it seems that even CFI’s don’t fully understand what they are teaching or NOT teaching…….. sad state of affairs, if you know what I mean Vern!!
I agree the CFI did not properly train the student.. Before I retired my good instructors sought out. Crossings and gusty conditions. When I began instructing I flew to the limits listed in the POH. First solo was limited to 26 KTS & 15 KNOTS 90 °.
PILOTS SHOULD NOT ENCOUNTER TRICKY CONDITIONS WITH THEIT WIFE & KIDS UNPREPARED.
This is the number one problem I see with pilots these days. They don’t understand how to land or takeoff in a crosswind. It’s their instructors fault, and their instructors fault going back many generations! Flight schools limit the crosswind that instructors can teach in.
A good 10-15kts crosswind will teach you quickly how to handle it, with a competent instructor. Big name colleges and flight schools are turning out incompetent pilots when it comes to crosswind technique. They really need to focus on this issue, less button pushing and more flying skill.
Typical modern attitude of associating flying with driving. Students need to be taught to divest themselves of the notion that planes are driven like cars.
In a crosswind, the rudder is used to align the nose with the direction of the centerline. The location of the aircraft over the runway is adjusted with aileron, not the rudder. AND STAY OFF THE BRAKES — they are used to stop on the tiedown lines on the ramp or to hold short when required, not to adjust your landing or takeoff.
“We noticed some turbulence on the downwind.” was an indication that maybe now was not a good time for first solo…..It’s call a gut feeling….. It was for this reason I had to change instructors several times because I would only solo if the wind was NIL…..Don’t let someone make you do something that you don’t feel comfortable with, including instructors.
Turbulence and first solo is not a good combination.
Hitting the brakes even in a car is the cause of many accidents. I have saved myself many times by accelerating out of trouble.