# NTSB WPR23LA119: Piper PA28, N8318C, Fullerton, CA, February 15, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 15, 2023, 12:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Fullerton, CA · KFUL - Coordinates: 33.872014, -117.97978 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8720&lon=-117.9798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 106835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106835/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106835 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA119 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in an impact with an obstacle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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-28-151, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that while practicing crosswind landings a gust of wind pushed the airplane left. The flight instructor took the controls and applied right rudder and added power to go around, but the airplane impacted a taxiway sign before it transitioned into a climb. According to the instructor, the airplane did not exhibit any abnormal flight characteristics once airborne. After communicating with air traffic control, they returned to the airplane base where substantial damage was found to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8318C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8318C), registered now, S/N 28-7615087 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (151) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7615087 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 3793 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E3D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Sale Reported - Registered owner: Sale Reported - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KFUL, Fullerton, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KFUL, Fullerton Muni, runway 24, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 11 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review April 22, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 850 total, 19 in this make and model, 763 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KFUL - METAR: METAR KFUL 151953Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 16/M11 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP214 T01561106= ## 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 20230215015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230215015429A), Feb 15, 2023: Piper PA-28-151, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. On 02/15/2023 approximatly 1245 local, student pilot with no enforcement history was receiving instruction practicing takeoff and landing, from a certified… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106835. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15378177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA119_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15428987&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA119%20N8318C%20pic-Rel.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.