Accident Overview
The incident involved a student pilot on his second solo flight. The flight began with maneuvers in a practice area, after which the pilot returned to the airport for a series of takeoffs and landings.
Circumstances of the Accident
After completing the second landing, the pilot expressed a sense of urgency to clear the runway. In an effort to expedite his exit, he applied full brake pressure, describing the action as depressing the brakes "all the way." This caused the airplane to deviate from its intended path, turning to the right. The aircraft left the runway surface and entered a grassy area adjacent to the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck a taxiway sign.
Resulting Damage
The impact with the sign inflicted substantial damage to the airplane's left wing.
Investigation Findings
Following the accident, an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration conducted a postaccident examination of the aircraft. The inspection did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies.