What happened
The incident occurred during a training flight involving a touch-and-go maneuver. As the aircraft was rolling down the runway following touchdown, the pilot became distracted by a query from the air traffic control tower. The controller asked whether the upcoming landing would be a full stop or another touch-and-go.
This distraction caused the pilot to lose directional control of the aircraft. Consequently, the plane departed the left side of the runway and traveled into a nearby ditch.
The investigation
Post-incident examination focused on the circumstances leading to the loss of control. The primary finding was that the pilot's attention was diverted by the air traffic control communication at a critical phase of flight. This lapse in situational awareness directly resulted in the failure to maintain runway alignment.
Findings
The investigation identified several key factors contributing to the accident:
- Loss of directional control during the landing roll phase.
- Distraction caused by air traffic control inquiries regarding landing intentions.
- Departure from the left side of the runway into a ditch.
These findings highlight the importance of maintaining focus on aircraft handling during critical phases, even when receiving routine communications from air traffic control.