Solo student and Flight Instructor reported the student lost aircraft control while landing resulting in a runway excursion with damage to the airport and no damage to the aircraft.
Synopsis
Solo student and Flight Instructor reported the student lost aircraft control while landing resulting in a runway excursion with damage to the airport and no damage to the aircraft.
Narrative
I'm a CFI; who signed off an applicant to preform a solo cross country from the ZZZ airport to ZZZ1; via direct at 4;500 feet and back to ZZZ at 5;500 feet. On the ground prior to his departure we went over his flight plan. Got a weather briefing on ForeFlight; and I personally checked the local weather via metar and TAF. As well as on aviation weather. We discussed winds; NOTAMs; generally weather and the flight plan along with the expected operations at both airports. I deemed the weather fit for the flight to take place as at the time of departure the winds were calm; no ceiling; and visibility unlimited. The forecast suggested the same with a slight wind pickup from the north at 5 kts. I gave him his endorsements and he departed the airport around XA:30. I was around the airport reading the instrument procedure's handbook and listened to communications while he was flying his route. I was watching his flight via ForeFlight and saw that he was in the traffic pattern. I left the flight school class room to go see him. I saw him in downwind and checked the wind sock. It was a quartering headwind at about 5 knots or less. I then go back to the flight school hangar to use the bathroom. After that I came outside and he was just parking. As I came up to him; I asked him how the flight went and he tells me that he ran off the runway as he was landing. I asked him if he had hit anything and if he was okay. He said he was fine and unsure of what had happened. Shortly after the airport manager comes over to us and says he hit a sign and taxiway light and the local police department are on there way. We talk to the airport manger again and me and the manger asked him what had happened. He said he didn't know and he just veered off the runway and couldn't explain anything else. Shortly after the local police ask for a statement from both him and I. We give them our statements and eventually they leave. We talk more with the airport manger about the next steps. He says we need to call the NTSB and tell that what has happened. Before we call the NTSB we want to check the damage on the aircraft and see the damage on the airfield to see if the report is required by 830.5. We deem there was no damage to the airplane; and unsure if the damage to the property of the airport would exceed $25;000. We get some advice from a rotary pilot; who flies for a police department. He says that the damage is not significant enough to file a report and we should leave it there. After further discussion with the manger. We decide to call the NTSB and tell them what has happened. Me and my student call them on my phone and tell them he hit a sign on landing during his solo cross country flight. They tell us the damage is not significant enough to create an investigation. We tell them thank you and I discuss more with the manager and the flight school mechanic about the damage on the airplane. It was decided that there was no damage to the aircraft. And we let it fly for the rest of the day. Notes: winds from the AWOS according to my student at the time of arrival were 340 at 4 knots. He says the airplane veered of to the left and we could not manage to get the airplane back on the runway. We have came to the probable conclusion of pilot error. I've done the same XC flight with this student 4 times. I've found no problems in landings nor navigation. Mainly ATC comms and towers airport procedures. Once he was capable of those things I allowed him to solo by himself. I was confident that he would make this flight with issue.
Second reporter narrative
This was my first cross country solo and the incident occurred upon returning to my origin airport after completing the cross country to ZZZ1. Winds had changed from initial takeoff ~1.5 hours prior. Crosswind pushed the airplane left of centerline upon landing on Runway XX and ran off the left side of the runway after touching down. The grass/dirt strip between runway and taxiway was an uneven and sloped gradient that further pulled me left of the runway once entering. Winds were from 340 at 4-6 knot according to the ATIS prior to landing.once I was off the runway in the grass slopped gradient; I was afraid to steer the plane back onto the runway in fear of a rollover; so I applied moderately strong braking without locking up the tires. I ran over a runway light and marker sign as I entered the parallel/adjacent taxiway. No damage to myself or the airplane. I'm a student with 150+ landings and I suppose I was not ready to correct the airplane in a timely manner while the wind was pushing me off centerline. I am going to spend time getting more proficient with crosswind landings. Other than that; my entire first cross country flight went as planned.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.