C172 Student Pilot and their Instructor who was observing from the ground reported the student lost control of the aircraft while landing and left the runway surface into a ditch.
Synopsis
C172 Student Pilot and their Instructor who was observing from the ground reported the student lost control of the aircraft while landing and left the runway surface into a ditch.
Narrative
My student was returning to the airport from his practice area solo and was landing for Runway XXR at ZZZ. I was watching the student and listening to Tower frequency on an ATC handheld radio to observe the flight. Before being cleared for landing; my student asked for a wind check to ensure that crosswind correction and necessary action could be predicted. The winds were reported as 200 at 12; within my students' parameters of under 15 kts sustained winds; VFR conditions; and my student was aware that a 30 degree crosswind from the right was to be anticipated upon landing. The aircraft looked to be on a normal and stable approach for landing while on final. Just prior to touchdown; my student rounded out early and caused the aircraft to flare higher than anticipated; stalling the aircraft approximately 20 ft. above the runway; giving a firm touchdown of all 3 wheels at the same time. The aircraft bounced once; touched back down fully; and began veering off to the left of centerline. Corrective action of the rudder was not taken fast enough for the aircraft to return to centerline; and the aircraft pulled off of the runway to the left; and downwards into a ditch roughly 20-30ft left of the runway edge where the aircraft stopped.My immediate reaction was to get to the airplane as soon as possible to make sure he was okay. Prior to our arrival; the aircraft was shut down by my student and he was able to coherently answer to the control Tower for fuel and souls on board. No injury to my student occurred; and aircraft damage was minimal. The extent of the damage to my knowledge at this time is only a prop strike. After exiting the plane and being examined by personnel for any injuries; my student consulted with me and stated that he should have gone-around immediately upon a hard touchdown and a bounce. He also stated that his crosswind correction was inadequate for the landing. Just prior to his flight; I had flown with him in the practice area to examine his maneuvers and landing in ZZZ; which I deemed to be safe and proficient. The wind and weather was relatively unchanged from the moment we touched down; about 45 minutes prior; to the time of the incident. He and I were both confident about his solo flight once we had concluded our dual lesson. This was his second time flying solo in the aircraft. I had deemed his decision making and actions within the previous flight to be safe and proficient just minutes prior to sending him off on his solo flight.
Second reporter narrative
Wind was from 220 deg at 14 kts. I was landing on XXR at ZZZ; 2nd landing of the day; and pulled power; power is out; at the runway numbers since I was bit higher than normal. When I started to level out the plane and flare; I may have started too early; and with not enough back pressure; which caused me to land harder than usual but not on the front wheel. I bounced a bit and I was left of center line at this point still holding right aileron against the cross-wind. I must have let up on the right rudder too much or all together; coupled with the right cross-wind; cause me to go severely left of center; at which I then applied hard brake to both pedals and ended up running off the runway in the gravel; finally stopping in a small ditch. I was not injured and the only one in the plane. The plane is believed to have a propeller struck when I finally stopped in the ditch off the runway. All three tires were operational not blown. The aircraft looked to be visually in fine shape; with the exception of the possible propeller strike. In summary; more training hours in crosswind landing is probably the only thing I would suggest in hindsight. On the day of the incident; I made one landing in the same conditions with my CFI in the plane. The conditions in which the incident occurred were similar and I felt confident that I could solo without issue. My only recommendations would be to reduce the allowable wind conditions for student solos (<10) until a certain number of total hours and/or documented landings in certain wind condition categories with a CFI over a certain number of training hours per type wind (gusts; wind-shear; x-wind; downwind; tailwind; and speed of winds).
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.