LAX03LA153

The airplane collided with a taxiway sign following a loss of directional control while on the landing roll. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted to the left of the centerline. The pilot applied right rudder pressure in an effort to counteract the drift, and the airplane veered sharply to the right. He applied left rudder pressure to correct for the overcompensation, and the airplane veered sharply to the left. After repeating this sequence, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the right wing collided with a taxiway sign. The pilot thought that he might have inadvertently applied pressure to the toe brakes during his attempted corrections, rather than the rudder pedals. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

On May 18, 2003, about 0700 mountain standard time, a Beech B19, N24006, collided with a taxiway sign while on the landing roll at Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona. The co-owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed CHD at an undetermined time. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was performing practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 04L. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted to the left of the centerline. The pilot applied right rudder pressure in an effort to counteract the drift. The airplane veered sharply to the right, and he applied left rudder pressure to correct. After repeating this sequence, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the right wing collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

During his attempted corrections, the pilot thought that he might have inadvertently applied pressure to the toe brakes, located on the top end of the rudder pedals, rather than the bottom end of the rudder pedals. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.