# NTSB WPR20CA052: Piper PA28, N924PA, Chandler, AZ, December 23, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 23, 2019, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.269165, -111.811111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2692&lon=-111.8111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 100745 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100745/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100745 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA052 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a taxiway sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, following a normal landing and while the airplane was decelerating, he attempted to exit the runway as instructed by the air traffic tower controller. During the turn, the student lost directional control of the airplane, and it exited the runway and struck a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The student reported that the speed was suitable for the turn but that he had issues controlling the airplane with the rudder pedals and brakes, which resulted in the runway excursion. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that following a normal landing, while the airplane was decelerating, he attempted to exit the runway as instructed by the tower controller. During the turn, the student pilot lost directional control of the airplane and struck a taxiway sign, causing substantial damage to the right wing. The student pilot reported that the airplane's speed was suitable for the turn, but he had issues controlling the airplane with the rudder pedals and brakes, which resulted in a runway excursion. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N924PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N924PA-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N 2843286, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 2843286 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 23303 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: AeroGuard Flight Training Center, doing business as AeroGuard Flight Training Center - Registered owner: Bird Acquisition LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 18, 2019 - Departed: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Destination: CHD, Chandler, AZ - Airport: CHD, Chandler Municipal Airport, runway 04L, 4,401 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 46 total, 46 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KCHD ## 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 20191223019859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191223019859A), Dec 23, 2019: Piper PA-28-181, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. Student pilot was on second landing rollout of solo flight. He lost control of aircraft, aircraft exited runway 4-L into the dirt area to the left of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100745. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Master.PDF 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.