Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the instructor's inadequate supervision. Related factors: high winds, and a crosswind.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot was authorized by his instructor to operate in the traffic pattern. He had landed on runway 36, and during the landing roll, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, into a ditch, and nosed over. According to the pilot's statement, at the time of the accident the winds were, 'blowing greater than forecasted, [from 270] at 15 knots, [gusts] to 35 knots.' the pilot wrote on his statement, '...on roll out aircraft weather vaned into wind, left runway, went into ditch and flipped over.' runway 36 was 30 feet wide and 2400 feet long.
Source record
Factual narrative
On March 24, 1995, at 1250 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N66010, piloted by Brett Murray, was substantially damaged during the landing roll at the Freeway Airport, Mitchellville, Maryland. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. The student pilot was authorized by his instructor to conduct solo flight in the traffic pattern. He landed on runway 36 and during the landing roll, the airplane departed the runway to the left, entered a ditch, and nosed over. According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, at the time of the accident the winds were, "blowing greater than forecasted, [from 270] at 15 [gusts] to 35 knots." The pilot also wrote, "...on roll out aircraft weather vaned into wind, left runway, went into ditch and flipped over." Runway 36 was 30 feet wide and 2400 feet long. -