# NTSB CHI08CA002: Piper PA28-161, N437ND, Grand Forks, ND, October 3, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 3, 2007, 12:06 local (17:06 UTC)
- Place: Grand Forks, ND
- Coordinates: 47.949165, -97.176109
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9492&lon=-97.1761&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAR FSDO/ FAA-ACE-ROC
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66860
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66860/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA002

## Probable cause

The lack of experience and the excessive taxi speed by the pilot.  A contributing factors was the airport sign.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi
  - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of experience, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - grass
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - airport sign/marker (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The student pilot, on his first solo flight, reported that the tower controller requested the pilot turn on exit A2.  The pilot reported that while he tried to comply with tower's request, the airplane was still at 20-30 knots airspeed when he attempted the turn.  The aircraft went off the runway into the grass and impacted the runway hold short sign with the left wing.  There were no injuries. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.

## Factual narrative

The aircraft was substantially damaged after landing while exiting the runway.  The student pilot, on his first solo flight, reported that the tower controller requested the pilot turn on exit A2.  The pilot reported that while he tried to comply with tower's request, the airplane was still at 20-30 knots airspeed when he attempted the turn.  The aircraft went off the runway into the grass and impacted the runway hold short sign with the left wing.  There were no injuries. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N437ND](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N437ND-2009-11-24), registration cancelled 2009-11-24, S/N 2842214, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2842214
- Airframe hours: 3191
- Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: University of North Dakota
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 1, 2007
- Departed: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND
- Destination: KGFK, Grand Forks, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 16 total, 16 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observed at: KGFK

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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