- Date
- February 16, 1999, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Colorado Sprngs, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8804JPiper PA-28-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990216014869A
- Case key
- 45763
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing touchdown. A factor was the sign.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said the landing approach was 'normal,' but once the wheels touched down, 'the plane began skidding to the right and the nose wheel began vibrating uncontrollably.' The pilot attempted steer the aircraft with the rudder pedals and applied the brakes, but was unable to regain control of the aircraft. The aircraft then skidded off the left side of the runway. The right wing struck the 9,000 foot remaining runway sign. The wind was from 110 degrees at 7 knots. This was the pilot's second solo flight.
Factual narrative
On February 16, 1999, at 1320 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-180, N8804J, operated by Pikes Peak Pilot Center of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was substantially damaged when it collided with a sign after it departed the runway during landing roll at Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado. The student pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area instructional flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated approximately 50 minutes before the accident.
According to the pilot, this was his second solo flight. He went to the practice area to perform maneuvers for approximately 45 minutes before returning to the pattern to practice touch and go landings on runway 17R. He stated that the landing approach was "normal," but once the wheels touched down, "the plane began skidding to the right and the nose wheel began vibrating uncontrollably." The pilot attempted to steer the aircraft with the rudder pedals and applied the brakes, but was unable to regain control of the aircraft. The aircraft skidded off the left side of the runway. The right wing struck the 9,000 foot remaining runway sign. After impacting the sign, the airplane spun to the left, and the propeller struck the ground.
The wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 110 degrees at 7 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8804J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-2754
- Airframe hours
- 3,070
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Pikes Peak Pilot Center
- Registered owner
- Gregory H. Cox
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 20, 1998 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- COS
- Airport
- COS · Colorado Sprngs Municipal, runway 17R, 11,021 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 23
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 23 total · 8 in this make and model · 22 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- COS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.