NTSB Factual Report

On November 13, 2001, about 1110 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172M, N1897V, departed the right side of runway 22R during the landing roll at Chandler, Arizona. Sunbird Flight Services was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The solo student pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed about 1015. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The operator reported that this was the student's first supervised solo.

The student reported that he completed one landing, taxied back, and the accident occurred on the second landing. He maintained an approach speed between 70 and 75 knots until over the numbers. He had the flaps at 40 degrees and the throttle in about 1/2 inch. He reduced the throttle by half to land and landed a "little hard" on the main gear. The airplane bounced about 2 feet back into the air, so he fully reduced the power and the airplane settled back to the runway. The airplane began to veer to the right; he countered with a little left rudder, but did not feel a correction. He thought the airplane would leave the runway, and removed his right foot from the rudder pedal and "stomped" on the left pedal. The airplane departed the runway, struck a taxiway sign, and sheared the main landing gear off.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during landing.