Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to judge a proper touchdown point, and his failure to maintain directional control after landing. A factor was the pilot's lack of total experience.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was attempting his fourth solo landing of the day. The aircraft landed about 83 feet short of the runway, left of centerline, and 5 degrees left of runway heading. The student was unable to correct back to the runway, and the aircraft collided with a runway light and a dirt bank before nosing down. The pilot's instructor was monitoring the flight and confirmed that the aircraft veered to the left of the runway after touchdown. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft prior to the accident. The student had logged about 21 hours total time, including about 1 hour solo time.
Source record
Factual narrative
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