Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's failure to completely reduce the throttle after landing, and his failure to maintain proper runway alignment.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While practicing touch-and-go landings, the student pilot unknowingly left the power in on landing. During the landing rollout, the student could not maintain directional control of the aircraft. The aircraft began to move left and right across the runway. He said he began to over correct, trying to keep the aircraft on centerline instead of pulling the power. The airplane left the runway edge and hit a distance marker sign. Examination of the aircraft was conducted with no abnormalities noted.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 10, 1997, at 1330 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N6375D, veered off of runway 27L and struck a distance marker sign while practicing touch-and-go landings at the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the solo local instructional flight, and no flight plan was filed. In his written statement the pilot reported that he, "unknowingly left the power in on landing. During the landing roll the plane became hard to control. . .after moving left and right across the runway I began over correcting trying to keep the aircraft on centerline instead of pulling the power as I should have." The airplane left the runway edge and hit a distance marker sign. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 240 degrees at 7 knots. An FAA airworthiness inspector reported that no mechanical abnormalities were found during an examination of the aircraft. -