# NTSB LAX04CA107: Piper PA-28-180C, N7922W, Minden, NV, January 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 25, 2004, 16:15 local (Jan 26, 2004, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Minden, NV - Coordinates: 39.000278, -119.750556 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0003&lon=-119.7506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58678 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58678/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA107 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control 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 - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot lost directional control of the airplane on the landing roll and impacted soft terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane "fishtailed" over the centerline. She added power in an effort to abort the landing and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The operator did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On January 25, 2004, about 1615 Pacific standard time, a Piper Cherokee PA-28-180C, N7922W, lost directional control on the landing roll at the Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV), Minden, Nevada. Flying Start Aero was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional cross-country flight departed Carson Airport (CXP), Carson City (CXP), Nevada, at 1605, with a planned destination of MEV. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the student pilot reported that she was on her first solo cross-country flight. She noted that the landing sequence was normal and the winds were calm. During the landing roll, the airplane "fishtailed" over the centerline, moving from one side of the runway to the other. When she added power in an effort to abort the landing, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. In a written statement, the airplane operator reported that the student pilot lost directional control during the landing roll. The airplane departed runway 34 on the west side between the 3,000- and 4,000-foot marker. The airplane impacted soft dirt and damaged the nose gear, propeller, right wing tip, and two nose ribs. The student pilot had 40 hours total time, which included 157 landings. The operator did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7922W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7922W), registered now, S/N 28-1960, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180C - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-1960 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: John B. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CXP, Carson City, NV - Destination: MEV, MInden, NV - Airport: MEV, Minden-Tahoe Airport, runway 34 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040125000909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040125000909A), Jan 25, 2004: Piper PA28180, Minden, NV, Minor damage. (-23) Student pilot landed on rwy 34 at mev. Lost control of aircraft and veered off the side of the runway into muddy ground. Minor damage to aircraft, no… 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.