# NTSB WPR23LA148: Piper PA-28-180, N9366J, Mesa, AZ, April 9, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 8, 2023, 17:45 local (Apr 9, 2023, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460841, -111.72832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 107031 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA148 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107031/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107031 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA148 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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-28-180, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102808), [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-28-180, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-180, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102808), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that during a solo flight, shortly after touchdown, he applied brakes and it felt like the airplane started to skid. He attempted to correct, but the airplane veered to the left and hit a taxiway sign, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9366J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9366J), registered now, S/N 28-3465, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (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: 28-3465 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 7905 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Red Rock Flight School, doing business as Flight School - Registered owner: Red Rock Flight School - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 27, 2023, 20 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KFFZ, Falcon Field Airport, runway 22R, 3,799 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KFFZ - METAR: METAR KFFZ 090054Z 28007KT 10SM CLR 27/M08 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP119 T02721083= ## 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 20230408004709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230408004709A), Apr 8, 2023: Piper PA-28-180, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. During landing the aircraft veered to the left, the pilot tried to correct but left the runway and made full contact with the bravo sign with the left main… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107031. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15347487&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 768 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15349071&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.