GAA19CA104

Factual narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, while on short final, the airplane was high, so she reduced the power to idle to lose altitude. As she pulled back on the control yoke for the landing flare, the main landing wheels touched down first and the airplane suddenly veered to the left. She corrected with right rudder control, followed by applying the toe brakes, but the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway onto the grass and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing aft spar. The student pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The solo student pilot reported that, while on short final, the airplane was high, so she reduced the power to idle to descend. As she pulled back on the control yoke for the landing flare, the main landing wheels touched down first, and the airplane suddenly veered left. She corrected with right rudder control and then applied the toe brakes, but the airplane continued to veer left, exited the runway onto grass, and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing aft spar. The student 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-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Sloped/uneven terrain-Effect on operation - C