LAX93LA293

The commercial pilot had received 4.6 hours of dual instruction in the conventional gear airplane. On the first solo flight, the pilot executed two landings without incident. On the third landing the pilot lost control of the airplane and added full power, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and damaged the right main landing gear. There was less than 2-knots effective crosswind component existing at the time.

On July 20, 1993, at 1450 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aviat A-1, N9614L, exited the left side of runway 28 at Selma Airport, Selma, California, and collapsed the right main landing gear. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules personal flight and was practicing touch and go takeoffs and landings. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Selma Airport at 1445 hours.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector reported that on the third touch and go landing the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot added full power and began to takeoff, but the airplane continued to veer to the left and exited the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed when the airplane entered the rough terrain.

The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he had received four and a half (4 1/2) hours of dual instruction before beginning the accident flight. He completed two (2) full-stop landings without incident; on the third landing he stated, ". . . I reacted incorrectly to the wind and the aircraft left the runway and ran into a dirt bank at approximately 15 - 20 mph (miles per hour)."