No fatalities

Student Pilot Loses Directional Control During Landing Roll, Collides with Signs

Phoenix, AZ, United States

On March 15, 2008, a Piper PA-28-181 operated by PAN AM INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY was involved in an aviation accident near Phoenix, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind condition. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot lost directional control after touchdown on runway 25R, veered left off the runway, and struck airport signs, causing the landing gear to collapse. The CFI noted excessive taxi speed for the exit turn.

Accident Overview

A student pilot was conducting a full-stop landing on runway 25R. According to the pilot, during final approach the wing flaps were set to 40 degrees and the airplane was crabbed into a left crosswind. The airport's automatic terminal information service reported the wind from 220 degrees at 11 knots. At 1253, four minutes before the accident, the local wind was variable at 4 knots with gusts to 19 knots.

Sequence of Events

After touchdown, as the airplane decelerated and the pilot attempted to turn off the runway, the nose turned left and directional control was lost. The student applied aileron and rudder inputs in an effort to correct the track, but the airplane rolled off the left side of the runway. It subsequently collided with several airport signs before the landing gear collapsed.

Instructor's Assessment

The student's certified flight instructor stated that the student was taxiing at too high a speed to negotiate the exit turn off the runway, and that the student should have slowed down before exiting.

Additional Details

The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, location, occupants, injuries, or time of day. No determination of probable cause has been provided in the source material.

Contributing factors

CrosswindCrosswind correction — Not attained/maintainedDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedPilotSign/markerCapability exceeded

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 Mar 2008 Piper PA-28-181 accident near Phoenix, AZ?

A student pilot lost directional control after touchdown on runway 25R, veered left off the runway, and struck airport signs, causing the landing gear to collapse. The CFI noted excessive taxi speed for the exit turn.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 Mar 2008 Piper PA-28-181 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 Mar 2008 involved a Piper PA-28-181, operated by PAN AM INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY, at Phoenix, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind condition.