# NTSB LAX02LA060: Piper PA-28-161, N4390S, Long Beach, CA, December 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 2001, 15:49 local (23:49 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.860767, -118.180686 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8608&lon=-118.1807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Stnds Dist. Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53967/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA060 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind, and his failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis The pilot reported he approached the 150-foot-wide runway with "crosswind correction," on center, and aligned with the runway. The runway was wet following a rain shower. As the airplane got close to the runway a left drift developed. The pilot attempted to lower the right wing to arrest the drift; however, the airplane touched down on both main landing gear about the same time. The airplane began a "severe slip" toward the left edge of the runway and, although the airplane was aligned with the runway, it traveled sideways. The pilot maintained crosswind correction and stopped the airplane. He was notified later that the left wing had been damaged by a taxiway sign. He reported there was no mechanical malfunction. In a weather observation taken 7 minutes after the accident, the surface wind was variable at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 2001, at 1549 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N4390S, struck a sign during landing at Long Beach/Dougherty Field, Long Beach, California. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local area instructional flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Long Beach Flying Club, and departed about 1530. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. In his report to the Safety Board, the pilot reported he approached runway 25L (5,420 feet long by 150 feet wide, asphalt) with "crosswind correction," on center, and aligned with the runway. The runway was wet following a rain shower. As the airplane got close to the runway a left drift developed. The pilot attempted to lower the right wing to arrest the drift; however, the airplane touched down on both main landing gear about the same time. The airplane began a "severe slip" toward the left edge of the runway and, although the airplane was aligned with the runway, it traveled sideways. The pilot maintained crosswind correction and stopped the airplane. He was notified later that the left wing had been damaged by a taxiway sign. He also reported there was no mechanical malfunction. Long Beach weather at 1556, was 5,000-foot broken ceiling with 10 statute mile visibility. The surface wind was variable at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4390S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4390S), registered now, S/N 28-8516031, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - 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: 28-8516031 - Airframe hours: 8371 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Long Beach Flying Club - Registered owner: Dale Goss - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 15, 2001, 42 hours before - Departed: LGB, Long Beach, CA - Destination: Long Beach, CA - Airport: LGB, Long Beach/Dougherty Field, runway 25L, 5,420 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 50 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: LGB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20011229034069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011229034069A), Dec 29, 2001: Piper PA28161, Long Beach, CA, No damage. (-23) After landing on a wet runway, the aircraft began to drift toward the left. Mr. Ritsner applied right aileron and left rudder to correct. By the time he… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.