Event WPR12CA082

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that after a normal approach on her solo flight, the airplane touched down firmly onto the runway and bounced twice. The pilot neutralized the flight controls when she was directed by the air traffic control tower to go-around. She applied full power, turned off the carburetor heat, and raised the flaps. As she raised the nose off of the ground, the airplane veered to the left, exited the runway surface, and struck a runway sign, substantially damaging the airplane’s firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. The student pilot reported that, during a solo flight, she made a normal approach, and the airplane touched down firmly on the runway and bounced twice. The pilot neutralized the flight controls to stop the bouncing. When directed by the tower air traffic controller to go-around, she applied full power, turned off the carburetor heat, and raised the flaps. As she raised the airplane’s nosewheel off of the ground, the airplane veered to the left, exited the runway surface, and struck a runway sign. The airplane’s firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. 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 Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C