Incident Overview
While operating in the vicinity of an unfamiliar airport, a pilot utilized a global positioning system (GPS) to align the airplane with what he believed was the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted mailboxes and fences, at which point the pilot realized he had landed on a residential street. The actual runway was located approximately one and one-half miles to the west.
Operational Procedures
A representative from the flight school stated that standard operating procedures required all pilots to use the GPS for all approaches. The representative also confirmed that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Damage Assessment
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident location, the wings sustained substantial damage.
Contributing Factors
The accident report does not provide a probable cause. The pilot's reliance on GPS while approaching an unfamiliar airport, combined with the flight school's mandatory GPS use policy, resulted in a landing on a residential street rather than the intended runway.