Accident Summary
On January 14, 2012, a Cessna 172S aircraft, registered as RP-C3544 and operated by Clark Aviation, departed from Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at 1124H for a solo cross-country flight. The itinerary included a stop at San Fernando Airport in La Union before returning to the departure airport.
Approaching San Fernando Airport, the student pilot requested a touch-and-go landing and was cleared by the control tower to join the left downwind for runway 19. As the aircraft crossed the threshold, the student pilot was late in pulling the elevator control, resulting in a hard landing on the main landing gear. The aircraft bounced upon touchdown on the left portion of the runway.
The student pilot attempted corrective action by applying power for a go-around. However, the aircraft veered to the right, struck one runway edge light approximately 170 meters from the touchdown point, and continued rolling for 57 meters before coming to rest upside down off the runway.
The student pilot safely exited the aircraft with assistance from the airport crash fire and rescue team and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. Subsequent medical assessment at OFSAM determined the pilot was fit to fly.
Probable Cause
The Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board determined the probable cause of the accident was a human factor: the student pilot did not apply nominal rudder input, which was necessary to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the go-around procedure, causing the aircraft to drift to the right and depart the runway. A contributory factor was the student pilot's lack of training experience for emergency and abnormal situations during takeoff and landings.