Cessna 172 N23AT accident near San Jose, California

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain the runway heading during the approach to land, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

NTSB analysis

The manager at the flight school reported that, during a training flight, the student allowed the airplane to drift to the right of the runway centerline on approach. He added that the flight instructor reminded the student to remain on the centerline, but as the airplane flared for landing it continued to drift to the right of the centerline. The student applied full right rudder, the airplane "yawed and banked to the left," the instructor pilot initiated a go-around, but the right main landing gear struck a taxiway sign. Subsequently, the flight instructor continued the go-around and landed without further incident.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

The manager at the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA232 for the full record.