Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Total 503
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Weather
While flaring on final a slight wind shift occurred during the flare for landing causing the longitudinal axis of the aircraft to move to the left of the ground track and insufficient right rudder application to correct the change was applied. Side load was placed on the main gear and directional control was temporarily lost as nose wheel touched down. I took control of the aircraft as soon as I observed the loss of directional control from the pilot. The aircraft veered momentarily off the runway into the grass to the left of the runway and back onto the paved runway exit. No damage occurred to the aircraft; airport installations and no physical injuries occurred to the pilot or myself (instructor.)
C172 CFI reported taking control of the aircraft on following his student's loss of directional control after touchdown.