Primary finding
Probable cause
the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The solo student pilot was attempting a full-stop landing. He lost directional control during landing roll and departed the runway. During the runway departure the nose landing gear was broken off and the right wing was substantially damaged.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 21, 1994, at 1015 central standard time, Piper PA-28- 180, N7812W, sustained substantial damage when the solo student pilot lost directional control and departed runway 14 during landing roll at the New Richmond Municipal Airport, New Richmond, Wisconsin. The solo instructional flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, originated at the Lake Elmo Airport, St. Paul, Minnesota, at 0945. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The student pilot reported: "...when I touched down the left wing picked up and I must have overcorrected because the plane went up on the right wing tip and started left headed off the runway..." The airplane departed the runway and the nose landing gear strut broke off. -