On October 2, 1992, a Cessna 172P (registration N5394K) operated by Reno Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Reno, NV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to flare the aircraft during landing, which resulted in a wheelbarrow touchdown and subsequent loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A noncertificated student pilot attempting touch-and-go landings failed to flare, causing the aircraft to wheelbarrow down the runway and exit into a ditch.
What happened
A noncertificated solo student pilot was conducting flight training operations at a nearby airport with the specific objective of practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During one of these maneuvers, the pilot failed to execute the proper flare technique prior to touchdown on the runway.
As a result of the improper landing technique, the aircraft began to wheelbarrow down the runway surface. While attempting to maintain directional control as the aircraft started to veer toward the left side of the pavement, the student pilot applied left rudder input. Despite these corrective actions, the aircraft departed the left side of the runway and collided with a ditch located adjacent to the airfield.
The investigation
The factual narrative indicates that the primary sequence of events was driven by the pilot's failure to flare the airplane during the landing phase. This error led directly to the wheelbarrowing phenomenon, which compromised directional control and resulted in the runway excursion.
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to flare the aircraft during landing, which resulted in a wheelbarrow touchdown and subsequent loss of directional control.