Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the student pilot to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. Factors were: alternator failure, failure of the student pilot to follow procedures and directives, and failure of the student pilot to perform fuel consumption calculations.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While on a student solo cross country training flight, the alternator failed and the student failed to recognize the failure. The loran, which he was using for navigation, failed so he switched to the vor. That also failed and he then noticed his fuel gauges were low and thought he was running out of fuel. The student pilot attempted to land on a rural road and went off the side of the road into a ditch. The flight departed with full fuel which provides approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes endurance. The actual duration of the flight was 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Source record
Factual narrative
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