Incident Overview
The accident occurred during a solo training flight. The student pilot reported that while on approach to land, the airplane experienced turbulence, and the wind seemed to come from more than one direction. He elected to use only two notches of flaps on final approach.
Sequence of Events
Upon touchdown, the airplane landed slightly sideways and immediately veered to the right. The airplane departed the runway surface to the right, heading toward a small hump in the grass. The pilot, concerned about tipping the aircraft with excessive left rudder input, delayed applying left rudder until the airplane was on top of the hump. He then applied left rudder and successfully guided the airplane back onto the runway.
Damage and Loss of Control
According to the chief pilot, the student pilot lost control during the event. The right wing struck a runway sign, and the left flap struck a runway light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
Mechanical and Weather Factors
The chief pilot reported no preexisting mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station, recorded about five minutes before the accident, indicated wind from 230 degrees at 10 knots with gusts to 16 knots. The student pilot was landing on runway 18.