Primary finding
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, while landing. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's improper flare for landing, his delay in attempting to go around (abort the landing), and the encounter with a runway marker and a fence.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot had planned to practice stop-and-go landings on runway 34. He said the airplane touched down on all three wheels simultaneously, because he did not flare sufficiently. The left main and nose wheel came up, but instead of going around, he pushed the nose down. The airplane began to veer to the left, and the student corrected by applying right rudder. When the left main wheel contacted the runway, the airplane veered further to the left. The student applied additional right rudder retracted the flaps and added power to abort the landing. As the airplane departed the left side of the runway, the student closed the throttle and applied brakes. The left wing struck a 3,000-foot marker sign, and the airplane collided with a fence.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 1, 1997, approximately 1055 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172P, N96575, owned by Flightech LLC, which was leased back by Great Western Aviation, was substantially damaged when it collided with a sign and a fence during takeoff at Tooele, Utah. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The Flight originated at Salt Lake City, Utah, at 0950. The student pilot had planned to practice unsupervised stop and go landings on runway 34. He said the airplane touched down on all three wheels simultaneously because he did not flare sufficiently. The left main and nose wheel came up but instead of going around, he pushed the nose down. The airplane began to veer to the left and he corrected by applying right rudder. When the left main wheel contacted the runway, the airplane veered further to the left. The pilot applied additional right rudder retracted the flaps, and added power to abort the landing. As the airplane departed the left side of the runway, the pilot closed the throttle and applied brakes. The left wing struck the 3,000-foot marker sign and the airplane collided with a fence. -