# NTSB LAX94LA270: Piper PA-28-161, N4359C, San Carlos, CA, June 30, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 1994, 11:33 local (18:33 UTC) - Place: San Carlos, CA - Coordinates: 37.490898, -122.260475 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4909&lon=-122.2605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28787 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA270 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28787/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA270 ## Probable cause the student pilot's attempt to exit the runway at an excessive taxi speed which resulted in his loss of control. ## 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 - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis The pilot was practicing solo takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. The controllers instructed the pilot to expedite turning off the active runway due to traffic on short final. The pilot attempted to turn off at a high-speed diagonal exit and was too fast to make the turn onto the taxiway. The aircraft then collided with three parked aircraft. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 1994, at 1133 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28- 161, N4359C, collided with parked aircraft while exiting the runway after landing at San Carlos, California. The aircraft was operated by Transair Flight School of San Carlos, California, and was rented by the pilot for a local area student solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the San Carlos airport on the day of the accident at 1030 hours. According to information received from the pilot, the pilot's flight instructor and controllers in the air traffic control tower at San Carlos, the pilot was practicing solo takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. The controllers instructed the pilot to expedite turning off the active runway due to traffic on short final. The pilot attempted to turn off at a high speed diagonal exit and was too fast to make the turn onto the taxiway. The aircraft then collided with three parked aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4359C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4359C), registered now, S/N 28-8416088 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8416088 - Airframe hours: 5361 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Transair Flight School - Registered owner: Christopher W. Harland - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 1994, 60 hours before - Departed: SQL - Destination: SQL - Airport: SQL, San Carlos, runway 30, 2,600 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 56 total, 56 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 14 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SQL ## 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 19940630020209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940630020209A), Jun 30, 1994: Piper PA28161, San Carlos, CA, Substantial damage. Student advised to expedite landing turnoff. Did so. Too much speed too make turn. Struck three parked aircraft. ## Other investigations on N4359C (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 LAX90LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA038), Nov 19, 1989: Piper PA-28-161 (N4359C), Hayward, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA CONTRIBUTED TO THE… 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.