Accident Details
During the final approach for a full-stop landing, the airplane was configured with an airspeed of 60 knots and a flap setting of 15 degrees. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was flared and touched down on the main wheels, after which the nose wheel was lowered near the A2 taxiway, slightly to the right of the runway centerline. The instructor directed the student to continue the rollout and decelerate to the end of the runway to avoid using excessive brake or rudder pressure due to their extreme sensitivity. Subsequently, the instructor instructed the student to apply light rudder pressure to realign the aircraft with the centerline. Ample left rudder pressure was applied and countered with opposite right rudder pressure, resulting in pilot-induced oscillations. The aircraft swerved dramatically from left to right and again to the left and right before departing the runway surface. The airplane came to rest in a drainage ditch on the right side of runway 33, slightly north of the closed runway.
Aircraft and Conditions
During the traffic pattern and landing, both the flight instructor and the student were on the airplane controls. The winds were reported as calm at the time of the accident. The flight training supplement for the accident airplane instructs pilots to avoid unintentional application of main wheel brakes when taxiing. It also notes that aircraft steering at higher speeds is more sensitive, thus requiring smaller rudder control pedal deflections to maintain directional control.
Outcome
Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear was bent aft and the firewall was buckled. No additional damage or injuries were reported in the source.