Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot’s diverted attention to retract the flaps.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the landing roll, the student pilot looked down to verify the location of the flap lever in order to retract the flaps. When he looked up, the airplane had drifted to the left side of the runway. The student pilot attempted to correct the drift; however, the airplane departed the runway into a grassy area and impacted a rock. The nose gear separated from the airplane, and the firewall was bent. The student reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane before the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
During the landing roll on runway 18 the student pilot looked down to verify the location of the flap lever. When he looked up, the airplane had drifted to the left side of the runway. The student pilot attempted to correct the drift; however, the airplane departed the runway environment, into the grass embankment. The nose gear separated from the airplane and the firewall was bent when the airplane hit a rock. The student reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.