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NTSB Report

September 10, 1996 · Piper PA-28-140 · N4308F

Lancaster, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 10, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lancaster, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-140
Tail Number
N4308F
Operator
Av Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX96LA332

The student pilot was on his second supervised solo, performing a touch-and-go landing. He landed right of the runway centerline and corrected his alignment during the landing roll. He then added power, and the airplane veered left. The student attempted to correct back to the centerline, but the airplane started to skid, and it departed the runway. It then encountered soft terrain, and the nose gear collapsed. No pre-accident failure or malfunction of the airplane was reported. The wind was reported to be calm.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure of the student pilot to maintain direction control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve and subsequent collapse of the nose gear, during an encountered with soft terrain.

Full Narrative

On September 10, 1996, at 1125 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28-140, N4308F, collided with the runway shoulder after landing on runway 24 at the General William J. Fox Airport, Lancaster, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated by AV Aviation, Lancaster, as an instructional flight. The local flight began about 1100. Visual instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. The student pilot indicated he was on his second supervised solo with his first on September 5, 1996. The pilot completed five touch-and-go takeoffs and landings with his instructor earlier in the day. The instructor released the student pilot to practice his takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. The student pilot was on his fourth solo landing when the accident occurred. He landed right of the runway centerline and corrected his alignment during the landing roll. He then added power and the airplane veered left. He attempted to correct back to the centerline, but the airplane started to skid and departed the runway. The nose gear collapsed in soft soil damaging the propeller and wing. The student pilot also indicated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane on his accident report. The air traffic control tower reported the winds were calm. Runway 24 is 5,001 feet long and 150 feet wide.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:25 PDT
Nearest AirportGeneral William J Fox (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length5001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-140
Tail NumberN4308F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAv Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E3D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data