20160803019189A

On August 3, 2016 at 1400 PDT, the student pilot stated that he was on a solo x-country flight from chino, CA (kcno) to Thermal, CA (ktrm). Upon arrival in trm at approx. 1010 PDT, the winds were calm and the skies clear. He chose to land on the longest runway available (and the one that he was most familiar with), runway 17. He stated that his target approach airspeed was 65 KIAS, however, he said that he actually was a little closer to 70 KIAS. During his approach and landing, the nose of the aircraft was in a higher than normal landing configuration, much like the attitude of a soft field landing. When he touched down, the aircraft was to the right of the center line and he tried to maneuver the aircraft back to the center line by applying left rudder pedal. The aircraft reacted quicker than he anticipated and started a rapid turn to the left. At this point the pilot states that he thought about going around but could not remember if he actually began that process. The aircraft continued in a hard left turn until the aircraft departed the runway and onto the soft and sandy ground adjacent to the runway. The aircraft continued in the dirt for approx. 100 yards until the nose gear dug into the soft ground causing the aircraft to flip onto its back. When asked, the pilot stated that he did not apply brake(s), because he believed that would have made the problem worse. Further, when asked, he stated that he did not believe that the aircraft had any mechanical issue that contributed to this accident.

(Note: on August 5, 2016 at 0850 PDT, the pilot provided the following written statement: ?because higher airspeed than usual, I flared longer than usual. So I touched softly airspeed was little bit faster though and runway center line was under my left feet. So I didn?t need to go around. Then I applied left rudder to maintain center line correctly. But aircraft was starting to drift to the left side. I almost lost directional control so I decided to go-around for safety. But aircraft went left over the runway before lift-off. Off the runway was a dried-muddy surface, so it seems like just unpaved surface. I continued on that surface to try to take off again. After then nose gear got stuck in the dirt, I was still at full throttle and aircraft flipped over propeller first.?)

An examination of the accident scene revealed the following: 1) black tire marks on the runway indicate that the aircraft did land to the right of the center line. 2) soon after touchdown, the aircraft began a sharp left turn indicated by two dark tire marks (side induced loading) on the runway from the right main landing gear and the nose landing gear (no marks from the left main landing gear). 3) these marks continued to the edge of the runway where they continued onto the dirt. It was noted that the left main landing gear did not make a track in the dirt until approx. 10 yards from the runway edge. 4) the now 3 tracks continued for approx. 90 yards until the nose landing gear finally dug into the dirt and caused the aircraft to flip unto its back. (Note: there were no indications that the propeller had made contact with ground until the nose gear dug into the ground). 5) upon examination of the inside of the aircraft, it was noted that the flap position was in the 20 degree position and the flaps themselves appeared to be set to that position. Additionally, the throttle was in the forward or full power position and the master switch was in the off position.