Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain directional control during landing roll. A contributing factor was the crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The 28-hour solo student pilot landed with a crosswind condition and lost control of the airplane during the landing roll. The mishap occurred during the student’s seventh solo landing of the day. The pilot stated that after the airplane landed "the wind switched from a crosswind to a tail wind and back" to crosswind. The airplane departed the runway, the nose gear collapsed in the soft terrain, and the propeller contacted the ground. Examination of the airplane by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed structural damage to the engine firewall. The winds at the time of the accident were reported as a 90 degree crosswind to the active runway at 8 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
The 28-hour solo student pilot landed with a crosswind condition and lost control of the airplane during the landing roll. The mishap occurred during the student’s seventh solo landing of the day. The pilot stated that after the airplane landed "the wind switched from a crosswind to a tail wind and back" to crosswind. The airplane departed the runway, the nose gear collapsed in the soft terrain, and the propeller contacted the ground. Examination of the airplane by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed structural damage to the engine firewall. The winds at the time of the accident were reported as a 90 degree crosswind to the active runway at 8 knots.