A C172 student pilot reported an unstabilized approach that resulted in a runway excursion.

Attributes
ACN	1371608
Time
Date	201607
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Landing
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Student
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 22 Flight Crew Total 55 Flight Crew Type 55
Person 2
Function	Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 129 Flight Crew Total 584 Flight Crew Type 494
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control Ground Excursion Runway

Narrative:

I am reporting a runway excursion that occurred on a solo cross country flight.after final approach to landing a late flare and too much left rudder caused the airplane to bounce after contact with the ground. The plane landed close to the left edge of the runway prior to [an] intersection and ran off before a go around could be attempted. Control of the aircraft was regained. The aircraft went approximately 4ft off the runway. Tower was called and asked for permission to re-enter the runway. Tower stated that was approved and had the in trail helicopter perform a go around maneuver. Tower then asked where the aircraft would go next and the decision was made to exit the runway at [the intersection]. The airplane was then taxied back to the FBO with no further problems.I have discussed this incident with my instructor and have found that the improper use of left rudder is the likely cause of the runway excursion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 student pilot reported an unstabilized approach that resulted in a runway excursion.

Narrative: I am reporting a runway excursion that occurred on a solo cross country flight.After final approach to landing a late flare and too much left rudder caused the airplane to bounce after contact with the ground. The plane landed close to the left edge of the runway prior to [an] intersection and ran off before a go around could be attempted. Control of the aircraft was regained. The aircraft went approximately 4ft off the runway. Tower was called and asked for permission to re-enter the runway. Tower stated that was approved and had the in trail helicopter perform a go around maneuver. Tower then asked where the aircraft would go next and the decision was made to exit the runway at [the intersection]. The airplane was then taxied back to the FBO with no further problems.I have discussed this incident with my instructor and have found that the improper use of left rudder is the likely cause of the runway excursion.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.