- Date
- November 17, 1993, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- Fresno, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2346GPiper PA-38-112
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931117043679A
- Case key
- 28601
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
was the student pilot's improper use of the rudder. The student pilot's lack of total experience was a factor in this accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The student pilot was beginning his second supervised solo flight. The student pilot improperly used the rudder during the takeoff roll, and the airplane swerved to the left and collided with a taxi sign.
Factual narrative
On November 17, 1993, at 1310 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA38-112, N2346G, lost control and collided with a taxi sign while taking off from runway 30L at Chandler Airport, Fresno, California. The noncertificated student pilot was conducting his second supervised solo local visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Golden Eagle Enterprises, dba Mazzei Flying Services, sustained substantial damage. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The student pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that during the takeoff roll the airplane began to swerve to the left. He applied right rudder and brake, but was unable to maintain directional control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2346G
- Reported as
- Piper PA-38-112
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 38-79A0502
- Airframe hours
- 3,110
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 112 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Golden Eagle Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 16, 1993 · 10 hours before
- Airport
- FCH · Fresno-Chandler Downtown, runway 30L, 3,202 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13 total · 13 in this make and model · 1 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2346G · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.