Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 8.6; Flight Crew Total 33.9; Flight Crew Type 33.9
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Weather
I was landing for my cross country solo. The winds prior to landing were 160 [at] 5 KTS when I was approximately 50 FT off the ground the winds changed direction (according to the Tower 300 [at] 8 KTS.) When I landed the plane was forced to the left side of Runway 26. With the plane on the ground I applied the brakes; but was unable to keep the plane from veering off to the left into the grass. While trying to keep the nose from going into the grass I struck a landing light on the rear of the plane causing visual; but not structural damage. I safely steered the plane back to the taxiway. After the plane stopped I called Tower and they instructed me to contact ground. I immediately contacted ground and let them know of the events that unfolded. I was asked if I was ok and if the plane was ok. I let Ground know that I was ok and the plane to my knowledge was ok and was not acting strange. I was told to taxi and that a ground crew would inspect the runway. After the inspection of the runway and after closing out my flight plan we found that one light was damaged; but repaired quickly. After the mechanic looked at the plane; we did find the light damage to the skin on the rear of the plane. The plane was repaired and I have since paid for any and all damages. After reviewing the events I believe that when the winds shifted I should have increased power and gone around for another runway with [fewer] crosswinds or reanalyzed the crosswinds for Runway 26 and made the proper inputs for a safe landing.
C172 student pilot reports a wind shift during landing resulting in a runway excursion and slight damage to a runway light and the aircraft.