This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
After normal flight and landing, long rollout with aerodynamic braking was used. At low speed, I went to apply brakes, and inadvertently pressed the right rudder pedal to the floor, and did not apply any brake. Was unable to apply any pressure to left pedal.
Departed the runway at low speed.
I called on my passenger, also a pilot, to apply the brakes from the right seat. He did so, and the plane stopped on the grass with no damage.
Probable cause: Unfamiliar footwear. I normally fly in sneakers. On this day, due to cold weather, I was wearing hiking boots. On the rollout, I discovered I could not feel the pedals.
Factors affecting human performance: I have been struggling with fear in the cockpit since a long flight in IMC in which I encountered prolonged strong downdrafts. I have retrained several times, trying to enjoy flying again.
During COVID, I was not flying at all, and in the last month, had made a few flights to try to find peace and happiness in the cockpit again.
So, I was nervous, and that probably kept me from being fully aware of the obvious, that these shoes have very large thick soles that could interfere with manipulation of the pedals.
Primary Problem: Human Factors
ACN: 1868201
There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all foot wear for airplanes. It is very much driven by the type of airplane AND the design of the shoes. Jet pilots wear boots because they almost never actually use the rudders. Cessnas, etc. have flat pedals so most sneakers work. Ballet slippers are gross over kill but work, if that’s what you want. Ballet slippers on something like a Cub or Pitts, that have rudder pedals that are bars about the diameter of your finger cause a hot spot of pressure that can hurt if there is no support in the shoe’s sole. At the same time, you do want to feel the rudder, especially since on taildraggers you keep constant pressure on both pedals (that’ll generate some mail!). Sneaker soles work fine on almost every thing, HOWEVER, walking sneakers often have huge heels that not only raise the foot up off the floor and but they don’t like to slide on the floor. Those same big-heel sneakers usually also have very wide extensions on both sides of the soles and they can cause problems on their own in aircraft where clearance from the fuselage on the sides of the pedals is limited. My personal solution is to cut the heel extensions off and sand a radius and sand both sides off the the soles for clearance. However, shoes like Simpson racing shoes, Piloti shoes and LIFT custom flying shoes (they have delrin buttons on the heels to ease sliding) are made for the purpose: rudder feel and clearance without being silly soft. There are also some very inexpensive deck shoes that have small heels and narrow widths and do the trick nicely. Just my thoughts.
Military Pilots usually do not usually fly 172s. So proper footwear is important
Wearing barefoot-like shoes, deer skin moccasins, or ballet slippers are great on the ground. In the air you should be prepared for a forced landing. Often, with any slip on shoes, they can slide off when you don’t want them to. Try a quick egress after a crash , running through a thick forest with brush and briar. It happened to two dear friends of mine, when they went down shortly after takeoff. She, in the right seat, had the ballet shoes for an event that day. When the plane started to catch fire. They got out quickly, but she lost the shoes in the interim, and they had to run away from the plane, as soon as possible. At that point, in the densely wooded area, running barefoot, was not something she planned for. Thank God, they both survived ok. He did have a hairline fracture in the spine. I would always make sure I have shoes on that give me a proper feel for the pedals, and do not hinder flight, while wisely choosing ones that would help me survive and thrive, ( not to mention a delayed rescue in cold weather) should I have an off field emergency.
Ahhh. This is good topic. I’ve flown most GA aircraft, singles some twins, gliders and about 4k hrs of helo, mil and civ. That said being able to feel the aircraft (and hear it…) are important. I worked around a crew in Florida however, that was flying constantly in flip flops. I suggested then and now that they consider the walk involved in having a flat tire at the run up end of a 5,000’ taxi way/ runway. I’ve landed, and had flats, a very long walk from anyone. You say “they’ll come get us”. Many great airports aren’t hmmmm, can’t say “maned”… yes I can… not all are manned and it may be a damned long, painful walk into town in your ballet shoes. Just sayin’. Choose wisely. What do I wear? Depends. In AK, boots, even in the Pacer. Hip boots on floats (no braking issues there…). In the FL Keys today? A closed toe and closed heel Keen water shoe. Not the best but it’s got arch support, I can feel the heal brakes and it’s my daily wear. I’m comfortable walking a couple miles in them. If you take the route of carrying “real shoes” that’s good but PLEASE, tie them down lest they smite you in the back of the head….
If you hit the brake as hard as you hit the rudder it would have been worse.
Military pilots fly with boots.
I use leather moccasins. My feel for the control of rudder and brakes almost like being barefoot. No boots of any kind. Fly safely.
Proper footwear is important, especially for rudder feel during flare in ground effect. When I switched to ballet slippers in my Mooney, I was amazed at how much more responsive I could be to what the aircraft needed. My landings and maneuvers improved markedly.
Last spring, I took an aerobatics and upset recovery course and flew the Extra 300L. The instructors made a point that one should never fly an airplane in bulky boots or other footwear.
I think with time, this pilot could get his wings back. Three years ago, before my first lesson, I was scared to fly. But with time and wonderful, patient instructors, I have become addicted!
What is it with footwear as the problem? At least come up with something credible, like someone tied my shoelaces together! (Happens all the time from what I hear) 😉
Same. Who knew that accidentally wearing the wrong footwear has the potential to cause so many problems! I guess I had better label the boots I normally fly in as “flying boots” lest I accidentally wear the wrong pair yikes, lol!
Just be sure to remove the spurs from your boots. Unless of course you are saddling up a Starfighter!:)
No comment.
To be honest, it sounds like a accident waiting to happen. I believe you need to find another hobby, one less stressful for you.
Frank
C’mon Frank!! You’ve always had perfect takeoffs and landings? If so, that is wonderful but the shoe thing has happened to me as well. At least this pilot was truthful with his feelings. Realization is a key step learning. Carpe Diem!!
Not even gonna go there….