On December 9, 1993, a Bellanca 7ECA (registration N57404) operated by Clay Phelps was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Paula, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's poor rudder control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During his first solo landing in a tailwheel airplane, a pilot's poor rudder control caused the aircraft to veer left off the runway and strike an airport tetrahedron, damaging the wing spar.
Incident Overview
A pilot, who had received prior instruction in tailwheel airplanes, was completing his first solo landing without an instructor on board. According to the pilot's report, inadequate rudder control during the landing roll caused the airplane to veer off the left side of the runway.
Damage to Aircraft
After departing the runway surface, the left wing of the airplane struck the airport's tetrahedron, a visual landing aid. The impact damaged the wing spar. No other damage or injuries were reported in the available information.
Pilot Experience
At the time of the incident, the pilot had accumulated a total of 7 hours of instruction in the airplane, which included 1 hour of pilot-in-command flight time.