Incident Sequence
A student pilot performed an erratic visual approach and landed without having received a clearance from air traffic control. After landing, he taxied the aircraft clear of the runway and stopped. The tower subsequently issued a taxi clearance to the parking area and instructed the pilot to contact them by telephone. Following a pause of several minutes, the airplane unexpectedly turned and began a rapid taxi across the grassy median strip. It continued moving along a street, collided with a street sign, and ultimately came to a halt with the nose landing gear partially collapsed against a curb.
Pilot's Condition and Aftermath
After the collision, the pilot remained in the cockpit, staring forward in a dazed state while the engine operated at a high RPM. Ground witnesses turned off the engine and assisted the pilot in exiting the aircraft. The pilot later reported that he had consumed only one meal per day for the preceding five days and had slept only 12 to 15 hours during the previous three days. Medical tests and evaluations conducted after the incident found no medical problems with the pilot.