Accident Details
The accident occurred during the landing phase of a student pilot's second solo flight. After touchdown, the aircraft experienced a loss of directional control and departed the runway surface. It subsequently struck a runway marking sign, resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear and damage to the right stabilizer. The student pilot had accumulated 18 hours of total flight time prior to this flight.
Pilot Narrative
The student pilot provided a detailed statement regarding the sequence of events. He reported that during the approach, his airspeed was higher than desired at the point he intended to touch down. Consequently, he elected to keep the aircraft airborne until the airspeed decreased to a more suitable value. While in this phase, a gust of wind pushed the aircraft laterally to the left, coinciding with the moment the aircraft made contact with the runway. As soon as the wheels touched the ground, the aircraft immediately veered off the runway centerline. The pilot attributed the loss of directional control to a lack of sufficient crosswind correction for the existing wind conditions. The aircraft then struck a runway marking sign, causing the aforementioned damage.
Stated Cause
The student pilot stated that the cause of the situation was insufficient crosswind correction for the winds.