Cessna 172 N35571 accident near Westminster, Maryland

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point which resulted in a runway overrun.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot reported that he was conducting a local solo instructional flight and landing in calm wind conditions. During his first approach the airplane was “too high and fast,” and he performed a go-around. During his second approach the airplane was “a little high and fast;” however, he elected to continue the landing. The student pilot could not recall the point on the runway where the airplane touched down but knew it was “past the go-around point.” The pilot stated that the airplane carried too much speed to stop on the remaining runway. The airplane overran the departure end, continued down an embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane’s vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged. The 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 ERA22LA203 for the full record.