Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 44; Flight Crew Total 90; Flight Crew Type 90
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Aircraft
I had been flying for about an hour already. I had done 2 full stop landings and 1 go-around; nothing seemed particularly out of the ordinary. When I came in for my 3rd landing I had been in the pattern and maintaining proper speeds (65 on final; 70-75 on base) using pitch with the throttle idle (which is something I have been particularly intentional about lately to stay up to par for any possible emergency landings). When I came in everything seemed normal; I touched down and I applied my brakes. For some reason; it didn't feel like I was slowing down fast enough and I kept pressing the brakes. Halfway down [the] runway; I made the decision to do a go-around because I thought that it was the safer option given I felt things were too fast on the tarmac and was not confident about the braking being sufficiently effective. I put in the carb heat; put flaps up; waited a moment to hear them get into place; and then I put in full throttle to take off again. As I put in the throttle and prepared for the requisite right rudder for takeoff; I ended up veering a pretty sharp left off of the runway into the grass; hitting a few lights along the way. I did not try to get back on the runway; but rather went to the closest taxiway and headed over to the FBO to do a safety check on the airplane and call my CFI. I did the shutdown checklist to make sure nothing was overlooked before leaving the airplane. When I got out of the aircraft I noticed that the flaps were stuck at 20 degrees (even though the flap lever had been all the way up) and that the propeller had been chipped up at the ends. I turned on the master switch again to see if I could put the flaps up and they were stuck. I was instructed to leave the airplane there and I went back to the flight school by car.
C172 student pilot reported loss of directional control and runway excursion after landing during an unsuccessful go-around attempt.