Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 1000; Flight Crew Type 500
Situational Awareness
Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Weather; Human Factors; Airport
This was a training flight. I am a flight instructor and I was practicing full stop landings with a pre-solo flight student. While on short final; during the flare of the aircraft; a gust of wind slightly from the right caused a ballooning of the aircraft; pushing the aircraft slightly to the left. The aircraft touched down to the left of the runway center line; as well as heading slightly to the left. I attempted to use right rudder to guide the aircraft back onto the center line; however due to the wet runway conditions; the aircraft began to skid further to the left; ultimately going into the snow on the side of the runway. The aircraft came to a stop partially on the runway; and partially in the snow. The tower then closed the runway for approximately one hour; while the aircraft was inspected and removed from the runway. I believe this situation was caused by my desire to allow the student to learn and correct from unexpected gusts of wind; but delayed my reaction in taking over the controls of the aircraft before an irreversible situation developed.
C-172 flight instructor describes the circumstances leading up to a runway excursion during a student landing.