Thermal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Thermal, California 92274
Thursday, June 29, 1995 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT WHILE LANDING DURING HIS 14TH TOUCH-AND-GO, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND HE COULD NOT REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND SPEED WAS BELOW 50 KNOTS AND THE STUDENT PILOT DECIDED THAT A GO-AROUND WAS UNSAFE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE DIRT. DAMAGE TO THE NOSE GEAR, FIREWALL, AND RIGHT WING SPAR RESULTED. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD LOGGED 75 TOTAL HOURS, WITH 10 OF THOSE HOURS BEING SOLO. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY THE STUDENT PILOT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control while executing a touch-and-go.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City THERMAL
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92274
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport THERMAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TRM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation -117
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2251 GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TRM
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation GMT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 13000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 42
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 804
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 5 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:20PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7658W
NTSB Number LAX95LA241
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28-1558
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 22 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2914
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BILL LINDA HOWELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 12645
Aircraft Owner City PALM DESERT
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92255
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS SIDENFADEN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 74940 HWY 111, SUITE 103
Operator City INDIAN WELLS
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92210
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PSP
Departure City PALM SPRINGS
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TRM
Destination City
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 4993
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --