What happened
On the morning of 24 April 2003, a Cessna 172K, registration ZS-NET, was involved in a runway excursion at Grand Central Aerodrome. The flight was part of a solo training session for a student pilot with 45 total flying hours. The student had been performing dual circuit and landing training with an instructor before being cleared to continue the session solo, with the instructor monitoring from the control tower.
During a touch-and-go landing on Runway 35, the pilot retracted the flaps and applied full power to initiate a go-around. During this high-power phase, the aircraft experienced significant directional instability. The pilot attempted to manage a yawing motion, but the aircraft ultimately veered sharply to the left. Despite attempts to use the brakes, the aircraft exited the runway and the left wing struck the Sapphire Air office building. The aircraft finally came to rest near an embankment roughly 10 meters from the structure. No injuries were reported for the pilot or any personnel on the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's control inputs during the transition from landing to go-around. Investigators examined the aircraft's path on the ground and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The inquiry looked into the sequence of rudder and braking applications used by the student pilot to counteract the aircraft's tendency to yaw during the application of full power.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a sudden loss of directional control while attempting a go-around at full or near-full power.
- The pilot likely over-corrected for a perceived yaw by applying excessive left rudder, which destabilized the aircraft's path.
- An alternative contributing factor was the application of significantly more left brake pressure than rudder, causing the leftward departure from the runway.
- The pilot failed to reduce throttle settings prior to the collision with the building.