Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions. A factor was the gusting cross wind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During his first supervised solo flight, the student pilot lost control of the aircraft and it veered to the left during his second landing. The student pilot reported that he noticed the winds gusting from the left and the began to go to the left so he applied corrections but they were not sufficient to arrest the left movement. The aircraft struck the wind sock.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 15, 1994, at 0852 central daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N63456, was substantially damaged during landing near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The solo student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator report that he lost control of the aircraft during the landing roll on his first supervised solo flight. This was the second touch and go of the flight. He was in radio contact with his instructor pilot and had received current weather prior to commencing the flight. He further reported that he noticed that there were gusting winds from left. As he touched down he noticed that the aircraft veered to the left of the runway and he applied corrections, but he stated that "it wasn't enough." He also reported that he applied full power but that "it made it go more to the left." The aircraft struck the windsock with the leftwing. An inspection of the aircraft revealed no anomalies. The aircraft was released to the owner. -