Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 29; Flight Crew Total 51
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
During landing; airplane skidded to the left of [the runway]. No major damage; no injury. Approach was normal and stabilized with no problems. Initial touchdown onto the runway surface was good; but then the airplane began to swerve more and more erratically.I believe that I did not maintain proper directional control over the aircraft. The nose wheel was lowered too soon and there wasn't enough positive counter-reaction when the aircraft initially began to swerve. Additional instruction is required to maintain positive control over the aircraft throughout the landing phase; especially when in crosswind conditions.
The pilot of a C172 lost directional control during landing due to nosewheel steering technique in crosswind conditions.