Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while executing a touch-and-go.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot stated that while landing during his 14th touch-and-go, the airplane veered to the left and he could not regain directional control. The airplane's ground speed was below 50 knots and the student pilot decided that a go-around was unsafe. The airplane continued to the left off the runway and into the dirt. Damage to the nose gear, firewall, and right wing spar resulted. The student pilot had logged 75 total hours, with 10 of those hours being solo. No mechanical problems were reported by the student pilot.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 29, 1995, at 1500 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N7658W, veered off the runway following a loss of control while executing a touch-and-go at Thermal Airport, Thermal, California. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Palm Springs, California, on the day of the accident at 1330 as a local area solo instructional operation. In his written report, the student pilot stated that while landing during his 14th touch-and-go on runway 12, the airplane veered to the left and he could not regain directional control. The airplane's ground speed was below 50 knots and the student pilot decided that a go-around was unsafe. The airplane continued to skid to the left into the dirt. Damage to the nose gear, firewall, and right wing spar resulted. The student pilot had logged 65 total hours, with 10 of those hours being solo. No mechanical problems were reported by the student pilot. -