Event IAD04CA009

Factual narrative

On February 5, 2004, at 1615 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172R, N5165M, was substantially damaged while landing at Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK), Frederick, Maryland. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local solo instructional flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot, the accident occurred during his first solo flight. While on final approach to runway 05 for his second touch-and-go landing, "everything seemed fine." As soon as the main landing gear wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left. The student pilot applied full right rudder, but could not maintain directional control, and the airplane impacted a snow bank along the left side of the runway. The student pilot additionally stated, "At no time did I actually touch the brakes." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and the operator of the airplane, there were no indications of mechanical malfunction. Runway 05 was 5,220 feet long by 100 feet wide, and was reported by the student pilot as being dry at the time of the accident. The weather reported at the airport, at 1614, included winds from 040 degrees true at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 5,500 feet, a broken cloud layer at 6,500 feet, temperature 30 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 19 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.56 inches of mercury. Upon landing, the airplane veered to the left. The student pilot applied full right rudder, but could not maintain directional control, and the airplane subsequently impacted a snow bank along the left side of the runway. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunction. The flight was the student's pilot's first solo flight. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12