No fatalities

13 Mar 2020: PIPER PA 28-180 No Series — Tucson, AZ

Tucson, AZ, United States

On 13 Mar 2020, a PIPER PA 28-180 No Series was involved in an aviation accident near Tucson, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's loss of directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion, collision with a pole, and a subsequent ground loop. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A solo student pilot overcorrected with left rudder after touchdown, causing the airplane to veer off the runway, strike a windsock pole, cross a ditch, and ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage.

Incident Details

A solo student pilot was landing an airplane when, after touchdown, the aircraft began to veer slightly to the right. In response, the pilot applied excessive left rudder, leading to a loss of directional control. The airplane then veered sharply to the left and departed the runway surface. During the excursion, the right wing struck a windsock pole. The aircraft continued across a ditch and subsequently performed a ground loop before coming to rest upright.

Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The right wing, engine mount, and the left forward side of the fuselage sustained significant structural harm. The severity of the damage rendered the aircraft unserviceable without major repairs.

Aircraft Status

The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The aircraft was functioning properly prior to the incident, and the loss of control was attributed solely to the pilot's actions during the landing rollout.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedStudent/instructed pilotEffect on operation