NTSB Factual Report

On August 22, 2005, about 1200 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N734MY, veered to the side of the runway and collided with a taxiway sign during landing at Ramona Airport, Ramona, California. San Diego Flight Training International, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed about 1145. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the accident location were 33 degrees 02.20 minutes north latitude by 116 degrees 54.54 minutes west longitude.

The student pilot reported that he was on a supervised solo flight. The first approach was too high, so he did a go-around. On the next approach, he maintained glideslope, and executed a safe landing. However, while coming to a stop, the pilot felt that he might have applied too much right brake, because the airplane turned drastically to the right. The pilot felt that the airplane's speed was fast enough that he thought that adding a lot of left brake would make things worse.

The pilot raised the flaps, applied full throttle, and pulled back on the yoke. The airplane gained a little altitude, and was still veering to the right. The airplane contacted a taxiway sign during the takeoff. The pilot took off into the landing pattern. The air traffic control tower had him come by on a low approach so that they could inspect the landing gear. The pilot then made a full stop. The firewall of the airplane was damaged during the accident sequence.

The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.