# NTSB LAX97LA327: Piper PA-28-140, N56474, Tucson, AZ, September 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 1997, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.149742, -110.929008 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1497&lon=-110.9290&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29906/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA327 ## Probable cause the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane and proper alignment with the runway during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis The student pilot, who was on her first supervised solo, was attempting to line up for landing on runway 11R. The wind was from 190 degrees at 7 knots. The student said the airplane was lined up too far to the left side of the runway, and the left main landing gear went off the pavement following touchdown. The airplane subsequently struck a taxiway sign. The pilot had a total of 21 hours to total flight experience, all in the accident aircraft. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 1997, at 0945 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N56474, collided with a taxiway sign following an on ground loss of control while landing at Tucson, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by a co-owner of the aircraft. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated in Tucson at 0925. This was the first solo flight for the student pilot. The Safety Board was notified of the substantial damage and the accident status on September 19, 1997. The accident had originally been classified as an incident. The student pilot stated in her written report that the "landing was lined up too far to the left side of the runway." The left main gear went off the runway and the aircraft struck a taxiway sign, continued across the taxiway, and came to rest beyond the taxiway A11. The pilot reported a total of 21 hours of flight time in this particular aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56474](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56474), registered now, S/N 28-7425003, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7425005 - Airframe hours: 5417 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Deborah Sampson - Registered owner: David & Deborah Sampson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 17, 1997, 82 hours before - Departed: TUS - Airport: TUS, Tucson International, runway 11R, 9,117 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TUS ## 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 19970913038039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970913038039A), Sep 13, 1997: Piper PA28140, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. First solo. Lost directional control landing. Collided with taxiway sign. 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.