On May 23, 2006, a Piper J-3 (registration N44778) was involved in an aviation accident near Hollywood, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot lost directional control during landing roll in a crosswind, veering off the runway right side and striking a sign with the horizontal stabilizer.
What happened
A commercial certificated pilot serving as a flight instructor was conducting a local training flight under Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91 with a student pilot. During the landing roll, a crosswind of seven knots from the right side affected the aircraft's trajectory. The wind pushed the tail of the airplane to the left, causing the nose to veer toward the right side of the runway.
The student pilot attempted to correct the deviation by applying left brake pressure. However, this input was insufficient to maintain directional control. The aircraft continued its path off the paved surface on the right side. Upon leaving the runway, the left horizontal stabilizer made contact with a runway sign. This impact resulted in damage to both the stabilizer and the left elevator.
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in the aircraft departing the runway.
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