Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control upon touchdown, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a ditch.
NTSB analysis
The solo student pilot reported that, while on short final, the airplane was high, so she reduced the power to idle to descend. As she pulled back on the control yoke for the landing flare, the main landing wheels touched down first, and the airplane suddenly veered left. She corrected with right rudder control and then applied the toe brakes, but the airplane continued to veer left, exited the runway onto grass, and impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing aft spar. The student 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 GAA19CA104 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 6, 2019
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Bowling Green, Ohio
- Nearest airport
- Wood County (1G0)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA28
- N-number
- N282BG
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2016
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.