20030830025859A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-38-112 · Joshua Tree, CA · August 30, 2003

Date: August 30, 2003 · 10:40 local
Place: Joshua Tree, CA
Airport: Hi Desert Airport
Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2318L
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX03CA269
Reported as: Piper PA38112
Reported engine: Lycoming O235*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 28 total28 in this make and model28 in the last 90 days

N2318LRegistration cancelled Jun 4, 2004 · Piper PA-38-112S/N 38-79A0724 · Built 1979 Airframe modelPiper PA-38-112 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Student pilot was performing supervised solo at high Desert airport. Instructor was watching from ground. A/c appeared to veer to right during take-off roll when student pilot overcorrected, a/c departed the runway to the left and became airborne after hitting dirt berm. A/c pitched down, impacted nose first, and came to rest inverted. Student pilot had failed to reduce the throttle. Aircraft was totally destroyed with no injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) STUDENT PILOT WAS PERFORMING SUPERVISED SOLO AT HIGH DESERT AIRPORT. INSTRUCTOR WAS WATCHING FROM GROUND. A/C APPEARED TO VEER TO RIGHT DURING TAKE-OFF ROLL WHEN STUDENT PILOT OVERCORRECTED, A/C DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT AND BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER HITTING DIRT BERM. A/C PITCHED DOWN, IMPACTED NOSE FIRST, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. STUDENT PILOT HAD FAILED TO REDUCE THE THROTTLE. AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WITH NO INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX03CA269Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportJoshua Tree, CAthe student pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.Aug 30, 2003 · Substantial damage