What happened
During a checkout flight, a Cessna (type not specified) was performing a landing on a gravel road under calm wind conditions. The certified flight instructor (CFI) had authorized the second pilot, who was handling the flight controls, to land on the unpaved surface.
As the aircraft decelerated during the landing rollout, the second pilot failed to maintain alignment with the road. This caused the right main landing gear wheel to roll over the edge of the roadway. The CFI attempted to apply corrective rudder pressure after the second pilot had already applied rudder; however, by the time the instructor responded, the aircraft had already drifted toward the edge. When the CFI attempted to regain control by increasing engine power, he discovered that the second pilot had already opened the throttle. Consequently, the aircraft veered off the road and into a ditch, where it nosed over.
Findings
- The second pilot failed to maintain the airplane's alignment with the gravel road during the landing rollout.
- The loss of directional control was precipitated by the right main landing gear rolling over the edge of the roadway.