# NTSB LAX03LA007: Piper PA-28-151, N75164, San Luis Obispo, CA, October 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2002, 15:25 local (22:25 UTC) - Place: San Luis Obispo, CA - Coordinates: 35.236946, -120.641944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2369&lon=-120.6419&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 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55865 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55865/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA007 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance due to her inadequate visual lookout. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - airport sign/marker - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane collided with an airport sign while taxiing from the runway to parking. The student pilot landed and received an air traffic control instruction to taxi to parking via a specified route. The student departed the runway while attempting to follow the instruction and taxied into a runway remaining distance sign, which she had failed to observe. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2002, about 1525 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N75164, collided with a runway sign while taxiing following a landing on runway 29 at the San Luis Obispo Airport, San Luis Obispo, California. The student pilot had rented the airplane from Cal Coast Flyers, Inc., San Luis Obispo. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. The solo instructional flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from the airport about 1430. According to Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers, who witnessed the accident, after the pilot made an intended full stop landing she was instructed to exit runway 29 at intersecting runway 25. The accident pilot acknowledged the instruction and began a left turn onto runway 25. Then the airplane was observed to turn right back toward runway 29. On this new course, the airplane entered a grass-covered median area between runway 25 and taxiway "J," and thereafter, collided with a 2,000-foot remaining distance marker, which was located near the left side of runway 29. (See the airport diagram for a sketch depicting the airplane's track, and the location of the impacted sign.) Following the collision, the pilot turned left onto taxiway "J" and proceeded to the parking area. According to the pilot, the accident occurred while she was practicing takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern to gain proficiency toward obtaining a private pilot certificate. The pilot indicated that she collided with the sign after making her sixth landing, while attempting to exit the runway following receipt of the air traffic controller's instruction. An official from the Airports Division, County of San Luis Obispo, filed a report with the airport manager regarding the mishap. The report indicates that during the collision sequence the airplane's left wing was damaged. The wing's leading edge was crushed and ripped open in two separate locations; one just left of the fuel tank and the other 2 feet outboard of this location. In each case, leading edge skin was bent rearward to the vicinity of the wing spar. Each of the crushed areas exceeded a span of 12 inches. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator has not received the required "Aircraft Accident Report" from the student, or any written statement from her. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75164](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75164), registered now, S/N 28-7615263, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7615263 - Airframe hours: 3811 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cal Coast Flyers, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2002 - Departed: SBP, San Luis Obispo, CA - Destination: SBP, San Luis Obispo, CA - Airport: SBP, San Luis County Regional, runway 29, 5,300 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 77 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: SBP ## 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 20021013028239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021013028239A), Oct 13, 2002: Piper PA28151, San Luis Obispo, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 13, 2002, about 1525 pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N75164, collided with a runway sign during landing rollout on runway 29 at the… ## Other investigations on N75164 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX78DVA36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DVA36), Apr 11, 1978: Piper PA-28 (N75164), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage 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.