Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 1.5
Confusion; Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors
OMA; Eppley Airfield is in the middle of a long duration construction project and at the time of the event the only available runway was 14R-32L.  Aircraft X had just departed OMA VFR on the student pilot's first solo for VFR pattern work at OMA.  As the pilot attempted his first touch-and-go on Runway 14R; the aircraft touched down and immediately veered hard to the left into the grass adjacent to Taxiway K. (The pilot later told the airport Operations Supervisor that he had mistakenly applied full left rudder as the nose wheel touched down causing the nose gear to be turned hard left.)  As the pilot attempted to regain control of the aircraft he continued to taxi through the grass and then back onto the runway and struck a runway edge light in the process.  As the aircraft rejoined the runway I inquired as to his intentions and the pilot declared that he needed to taxi to the FBO where his instructor was waiting and that he was having a hard time controlling the aircraft.  I instructed the pilot to maneuver at pilot's discretion as the pilot again veered off Runway 14R; and I pointed out to the pilot the closed and barricaded construction areas; runways; and taxiways ahead (due to a long term construction project). The route that the pilot chose: crossed a closed portion of Taxiway F; crossed a closed portion of Runway 18-36; then joined a closed portion of Taxiway S; and then crossed Runway 14L on taxiway M on his way to the general aviation ramp.  At that point I instructed the pilot to monitor Ground point niner.I felt that the best solution to the situation was to try to calm the pilot and allow him to continue at pilot's discretion in order to clear the runway so that operations could resume after a FOD inspection since 14R-32L was the only available runway.
I was taking off from Runway 14R for my second time on a go-around with Tower clearance.  I applied full power and slight right rudder to compensate.  Shortly after this; I started veering heavily to the left.  The more I corrected the more left I went.  I pulled back power; but had too much speed and went off the runway into the grass on the east side. I then went back onto the runway and in the grass on the east side.  I took out one runway light in this process. The plane took a minor dent to the left strut.  The Tower gave me clearance to taxi via closed runways to get to the ramp as fast as possible.  We inspected the plane with ground; filed a report with the Omaha Airport Authority and the control Tower.  This was all part of a solo flight.  My instructor got back in with me; and we returned the plane to Council Bluffs to repair the dent and give it a thorough inspection.My best guess is my foot somehow accidentally overlapped the right rudder and left break or perhaps I had my left foot in a poor resting position.  Please contact me with any questions.
OMA Local Controller reports of a student pilot landing and then exiting the runway prior to an intersection; because the pilot used too much left rudder.  The Controller then let the aircraft taxi to the FBO at his own discretion.