Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Total 56
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Weather
The incident had occurred on my second solo landing. The winds had picked up a bit to 240 @ 6. When I did my crosswind component it was still within my limitations and felt that since my last landing was good that I would try for a second one and determine if the crosswind was too much for me or not. When I was ready for my second takeoff; I keyed up the mic and told tower I was ready for departure. I was given the clearance to takeoff. When I became airborne; I pitched for the correct airspeed and began my right-hand traffic pattern for 30C. I had established the aircraft on downwind and everything was going well. I was maintaining airspeed and altitude with ease. When I was given my clearance to land; I was abeam of the thousand footers so I began to configure just like always. I went through the before landing checklist; reduced power to about 1500 RPMs; added 10 degrees of flaps; and established my pitch to maintains 70 knots. I began my turn to base. Once I was fully established on base and had the runway insight; I added my 20 degrees of flaps. I then began my turn to final and had myself established on centerline and continued to maintain 70 knots. When I was over the numbers; I pulled out the power and slowly began my descent into ground effect. The winds had pushed me a bit off the centerline so I was about 10 feet to the right of the centerline. I felt that because I was so low that if tried to make any correction to get back on centerline I would have made an unsafe landing. I decided to land the plane and then when on the ground I would get back on centerline. When I touched down; I went to apply the brakes; it felt like I pressed down on the left rudder pedal a bit before applying both my feet. When I did so; the plane began to spin to the left. I didn't fully spin because I corrected it with the rudders but I was not able to stop the plane and it veered off the runway and took out one of the runway identifier lights. It then proceeded into the dirt where it went about 15 feet until it came to a stop. Another pilot had seen the whole thing and notified tower that I had gone off into the dirt. I notified tower that it was me and that I was the only one in the aircraft and I was physically fine. I shut down the plane and waited outside for help to come. I realize that this incident could have been prevented by simply going around. I also realize that when I touched down that I should have let the plane slow down on its own and slowly apply breaks; before trying to correct it back on centerline. I also know that I should keep in any corrections to crosswind in all the way until touchdown; this will help me stay centerline. I know that if I ever feel unsafe; or seem to be off the centerline; or anything just seems wrong I should always go around.
C172 student pilot reported a loss of control and runway excursion while landing in crosswind condition.