Cessna 172 N35502 accident near Newport News, Virginia

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

NTSB analysis

According to the student pilot, he was performing his third stop and go landing, during his first solo flight. He reported that during the landing flare he heard the stall warning horn, and he bounced the landing while traveling at a ground speed of approximately 45 knots. The student pilot remarked that he was not able to control the airplanes lateral direction during the landing roll and the airplane exited the right side of the runway subsequently impacting a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing and the fire wall.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to, or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA134 for the full record.