No fatalities

17 Feb 2016: CESSNA 172 S — LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS — Newport News, VA

Newport News, VA, United States

On 17 Feb 2016, a CESSNA 172 S operated by LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS was involved in an aviation accident near Newport News, VA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on his first solo flight bounced a landing, heard a stall warning, and lost directional control, causing the aircraft to exit the runway and hit a culvert, resulting in substantial damage.

Overview

A student pilot was conducting his third stop-and-go landing during his first solo flight when the landing procedure deviated from normal. According to the pilot's account, the stall warning horn activated during the flare. The aircraft subsequently bounced upon touchdown while traveling at an approximate ground speed of 45 knots. The pilot reported being unable to maintain directional control during the landing roll. The airplane then departed the right side of the runway and struck a drainage culvert.

Damage

The collision with the culvert inflicted substantial damage to the right wing and the firewall of the aircraft. No other damage was reported.

Pilot Report

The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane before or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. The flight was a solo event, marking the pilot's first such experience without an instructor onboard.

Sequence of Events

As the student pilot flared for landing, the stall warning horn sounded. The aircraft bounced during the touchdown. After the bounce, the pilot found it impossible to keep the airplane aligned with the runway centerline. The airplane veered to the right, left the paved surface, and ultimately impacted a drainage culvert located adjacent to the runway.

Investigation

The investigation relied on the pilot's statement. No additional factors such as weather, time of day, or air traffic control involvement were reported. The aircraft's registration and model were not specified in the source.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Pitch control — Not attained/maintained