Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 32; Flight Crew Total 32; Flight Crew Type 32
Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Airspace Violation All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Weather
The issue occurred during my solo cross country flight; my flight plan was to fly at/between 3;500 and 3;000 feet cross the mountains maintaining VFR and return to 3;000/3;500 feet once I got over the mountains [to] avoid airspace; and maintain VFR and stay under the clouds; to avoid terrible turbulence. I had to deviate course some to do this. While on this flight I experienced communications failure with Center and could not get in touch with anyone. Being a student pilot; without communications; and flying into a major airport I considered this to be an emergency situation. As I was crossing over [a] Class D airspace at 3;500 feet I encountered a regional jet that was to my right going south to north as I was going east to west. Without communication and without a way to get in touch or make sure he knew where I was I dropped altitude to avoid the regional jet. While landing there was a crosswind coming across the field. As I went to land straight down the middle there was a strong gust of wind that blew me from the middle of the runway to the far left of the runway when I was 5 to 10 feet off the ground. I managed to keep the plane level put when I landed my left wheel pulled to the left and without flipping the plane was unable to correct and I struck a runway light. To correct these actions I have ensured that avionics in the plane have been checked to ensure the loss of communications would not occur again. And to avoid the crosswind gust will ensure to practice landings to a high standard.
I endorsed one of my student pilots to make a direct trip in a Cessna 172. The student had previously received training in flight following as well as landing in a controlled environment. On the trip in question the pilot intermittently lost contact with Center while receiving flight following; causing him to miss calls from [Center] as well as him not responding to call from [Center].I believe that the cause of the issue was the pilot's altitude in combination with our radio system that interferes with him continuing to maintain contact. That loss in contact may have caused him to pass through Class C and D airspace without making contact.The prevent this from happening again I will provide cross country training along the route of flight my student's plan to fly on their solo cross country flights. I will also be providing additional training in the radio systems and backup systems before allowing solo flight to continue.
Cessna 172 student pilot reported losing communications during a solo cross country flight and striking a runway light during landing.