N46085

On October 20, 2001 at 1020 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N46085, registered to and owned by Wayne Aviation slid into a ditch on landing at Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal Airport in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The instructional flight was operated by a solo student pilot, under the supervision of a flight instructor, and conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The student pilot was not injured; however, the airplane sustained substantial damage. The solo flight originated at Goldsboro-Wayne Municipal Airport, in Goldsboro, North Carolina, at 0930.

According to the student pilot, he was making his third practice landing in the traffic pattern when the accident occurred. He touched down and felt the nosewheel shimmy. He then added power for a go-around, and the airplane pulled to the left. The student pilot attempted to correct with rudder, but was unable to keep the airplane from veering into the grass alongside the runway. The airplane slid into a ditch and flipped inverted.

Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the nose gear and tail section. In addition, the left wing was bent. The pilot did not report any malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to disclose mechanical malfunction or component failure.