Event CEN20CA089

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that before the accident flight he and his flight instructor had made 3 uneventful landings on the snow-covered runway before his flight instructor exited the airplane to allow him to make his first solo flight. The student pilot stated that his first solo landing resulted in "a bit of sliding" and that the airplane had come to a stop about 90° to the desired runway heading. The student pilot taxied the airplane back to the ramp where he and his instructor discussed the landing, and both agreed to continue with the solo flight. The student pilot reported that during his second solo landing the airplane slid to the left upon touchdown, and that he was unable to regain directional control with right rudder before the airplane slid into a snowbank beside the runway. The outboard 3 ft of the left wing was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground. The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction with the flight controls, nosewheel steering, or wheel brakes. Most of the runway was covered with 1-2 inches of snow/slush at the time of the accident. It is likely that the student pilot landed the airplane on a snow/slush covered portion of the runway when he lost directional control. The student pilot reported that, before the accident flight, he and his flight instructor had conducted three uneventful landings on the snow-covered runway before the instructor exited the airplane to allow him to make his first solo flight. During the first solo landing, the airplane slid "a bit," and the airplane came to a stop about 90° from the desired runway heading. The student taxied the airplane back to the ramp where he and the instructor discussed the landing, and both agreed that the student could continue with his second solo flight. During the second solo landing, the airplane slid left upon touchdown, and the student applied right rudder but was unable to regain directional control. Subsequently, the airplane slid into a snowbank beside the runway. The outboard 3 ft of the left wing sustained substantial damage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction with the flight controls, nosewheel steering, or wheel brakes. Most of the runway was covered with between about 1 and 2 inches of snow/slush at the time of the accident. It is likely that the student landed the airplane on a snow/slush-covered portion of the runway, which resulted in the loss of directional control. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Instructor/check pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Snow/slush/ice covered surface-Effect on operation - C