Incident Overview
A student pilot was conducting touch-and-go landing practice when, during the second landing touchdown, the airplane suddenly swerved to the left. The airplane departed the runway surface and collided with a taxiway sign. The aircraft came to rest with the right main landing gear collapsed and the right horizontal stabilizer broken.
Pilot Statement
The student pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions occurred before the accident. He stated that he may have inadvertently applied left brake pressure upon touchdown, which could have caused the sudden left swerve. The pilot had completed one uneventful touch-and-go landing prior to the incident.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained structural damage, including a collapsed right main landing gear and a broken right horizontal stabilizer. The impact with the taxiway sign also likely caused additional cosmetic damage, though the report only details the landing gear and stabilizer.