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Student hits taxiway sign

By NTSB · December 22, 2020 ·

The student pilot reported that following a normal landing at the airport in Chandler, Arizona, while the airplane was decelerating, he attempted to exit the runway as instructed by the tower controller.

During the turn, he lost directional control of the Piper PA28 and hit 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.

Probable Cause: The student pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a taxiway sign.

NTSB Identification: 100745

This December 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. Wylbur Wrong says

    December 25, 2020 at 8:25 am

    Student needs to be taught “unable”, how and when it is to be used.

    If you are going too fast to make a 90 turn, you are UNABLE. Physics will not be denied.

    That said, one must also have situational awareness. If there is an emergency behind you, you needed to be doing the braking necessary to make that taxi-way when you got to it.

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