Cessna 172N N1203F accident near Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose over.

NTSB analysis

The solo student pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane began to pull to the left. He did not want to put in “abrupt” right rudder because he did not want to tip the airplane over, so he continued to let the airplane roll into the grass. He thought that once the airplane rolled into the grass it would slow down, but the airplane encountered a wet, soggy, and shallow ravine. The nosewheel stuck in the mud, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The left wing and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA160 for the full record.