Date: 202109
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Landing
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: CTAF ZZZ
Aircraft component: Rudder
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Student; Other Solo
Human factors: Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: On Date; I was doing solo touch-and-go landings at ZZZ. On my fourth lap in the pattern; I lost control of the aircraft after touching down; departed the runway; and struck a taxi sign. I had been out of the cockpit for about two weeks.My final approach was slightly steeper than usual; but I was maintaining my airspeed between 70-75 knots while flying to the numbers; so I decided to continue the approach. As expected; the round-out and flare portion of the landing were longer than usual. In ground effect; the aircraft drifted to the right of the centerline. I corrected this by pointing the nose of the aircraft slightly to the left in order to intercept the runway centerline.As my airspeed slowed past 40; I made contact with the runway and bounced back up into the air. Since a single bounce was not uncommon; my intent at this point was still to continue with the touch-and-go landing.I did one additional bounce as the airplane started coming back towards the runway centerline. I finally lost confidence in the landing and decided to go around. I do not recall precisely the airspeed; but it must have been around 35-40. I began the procedure to wave-off; and I applied full power. By now; the aircraft had settled to the surface and was rolling down the runway.After I increased the throttle to max; I became confused about the next steps to take because I was mentally prepared to execute the touch-and-go; and the actions I was prepared to take were to raise the flaps; turn the carb heat off; and take-off normally.Since the airplane was simply rolling down the runway at this point; I began to do the tasks associated with cleaning up the airplane for a takeoff. I knew that the aircraft would not be able to accelerate well with the flaps in the landing configuration; so I reached over and began to raise the flaps. I also needed to turn the carb heat off. But I was unfamiliar with the flap selector switch on this aircraft; since it was a spring-loaded switch. When I took my hand off of it to turn the carb heat off; the flaps stopped moving. I returned my hand to the flap selector again to raise the flaps and looked around to verify the physical position of the flaps.Throughout this entire time; I had been rolling from the right side of the runway back towards the centerline. Also; due to being at full power; the left-turning tendency of the airplane caused it to veer to the left. Since I was fixated on the flaps and preoccupied with the switches in the cockpit and checking the flap position; I did not immediately notice the change in airplane's direction. When I looked ahead again; I had only had a few hundred feet remaining before departing off the left side of the runway.At this point; I remember feeling confused because I was halfway through the procedures for a touch-and-go and halfway through the procedures for a go around. I was not completely confident in the ability to rotate and take off because the flaps were still partially retracted and I was unsure of the airspeed that I had. I knew for certain that I wanted to avoid any possibility of a low-level stall; so I wanted to abort the takeoff.I took out the power and applied right rudder and braking in attempt to stay on the hard surface; but did not do so aggressively enough to make a meaningful change in direction. I briefly considered applying even more right rudder and right brake pressures; but I am unfamiliar with the ground handling characteristics at high speed and did not want to risk tipping over the airplane and causing a wingtip strike.I believed that the best course of action was to slow down straight ahead. My first reaction was to apply full braking; but I ended up skidding and suddenly veering further left; directly towards the taxi sign. After knocking down the sign; I braked and came to a stop in the grass between the taxiway and runway. Then; I immediately proceeded with the emergency engine shutdown checklist.




Synopsis: Student pilot reported a runway excursion caused by improper procedures that resulted in aircraft damage.