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GAA17CA516

2017-09-02 · Goodyear, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GYR

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, during approach, he felt a "slight sink". He added that the main landing gears touched down and the airplane began to porpoise. The student pilot added power to initiate a go-around, but the airplane veered left. The porpoising continued, so the pilot reduced power to idle and attempted to use brakes to steer. The airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The solo student pilot reported that, during approach, he felt a "slight sink." He added that the main landing gears touched down, and the airplane began to porpoise. The student pilot added power to initiate a go-around, but the airplane veered left. The porpoising continued, so the pilot reduced the power to idle and attempted to use brakes to steer. The airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Sign/marker-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA516.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (go-around). All research papers