Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A factor was the stall/mush.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was performing touch and go landings at the uncontrolled airport when the airplane started to porpoise after touchdown and aircraft control was lost. He attempted to abort the landing and recover from the bouncing by adding full power. The airplane was seen by eyewitnesses to leave the runway surface and drift left in a nose high, right bank attitude for approximately 200 yards and then the left horizontal stabilizer struck a butane tank and the airplane cartwheeled to impact the terrain. The FAA inspector did not report finding any mechanical problems with the airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
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