Factual Information
On June 5, 2024, at approximately 10:58 JST, a Piper PA-28-151 (registration JA3712) operated by a student pilot on a solo open air flight training flight landed at Yoron Airport, Kagoshima prefecture. The aircraft touched down left of the runway centerline marking. During the ground roll, the student applied right rudder to correct towards the center, then immediately applied left rudder, resulting in a left turn. The aircraft exited the runway, crossed grass, and struck the airport's perimeter fence with the leading edge of the left wing. The propeller became entangled in barbed wire, and the engine stopped. The student, whose total flight time was 50 hours 10 minutes, was not injured.
Wind conditions at the time of touchdown (10:57:36) were 130° at 9 knots, with fluctuations. The student had previously received information of wind 090° at 7 knots. The airport perimeter fence consisted of posts 1.10 m high, spaced approximately 2 m apart, with wire mesh and barbed wire. Twelve posts were deformed, and about 26 m of fence collapsed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage: spars broken and abrasions to both wings, a breach in the left fuel tank, and abrasions to the spinner, propeller, and engine cowling.
Analysis
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) analyzed that the aircraft touched down left of the runway centerline. During the ground run, the student used right rudder to correct, but the correction was more abrupt than expected, leading to immediate left rudder application. The aircraft turned left and entered the grass. Based on uneven wear of the left main landing gear tire and tire marks, the JTSB concluded that the left brake was applied before the speed had sufficiently decreased. The student's foot likely touched the left brake pedal while pressing the left rudder. The JTSB also noted that the wind direction changed from 090° to 130° true bearing at touchdown, reducing the crosswind component, and the student did not respond appropriately.
Probable Causes
The JTSB concluded that the probable cause of this accident was that when the aircraft was on its landing roll and the rudder was used to correct its direction before it had sufficiently slowed down, and the left brake pedal was most likely pressed in the process, which activated the left brake, causing the aircraft to veer to the left, deviate from the runway, enter the grass field, and collide with the perimeter fence, damaging the aircraft.
Safety Actions
As a safety action, the JTSB recommended that in initial training, instructors should teach student pilots to correct heading during the ground run after landing using appropriate rudder amount depending on speed and to master proper foot position to avoid accidental brake application.