Hi Desert Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Joshua Tree, California 92252
Saturday, August 30, 2003 10:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane veered off the runway during the takeoff roll and collided with a berm. The student was on his first solo flight. After flying with his instructor for 3 hours, he attempted solo pattern work. A full takeoff and landing sequence was completed successfully. During the second takeoff, after reaching rotation speed he "looked up," and the airplane had drifted off centerline. It continued off the runway and encountered a berm, which launched it airborne. The airplane stalled about 10 feet above ground level. The nose collided with the ground, the engine detached, and the airplane came to rest inverted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Joshua Tree
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92252
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340915N
Event Location Longitude 1161508W
Event Location Airport Hi Desert
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L80
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KPSP
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14463
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1135
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-RAL-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2318L
NTSB Number LAX03CA269
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 38-79A0724
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Park Richardson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Joshua Tree
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92252
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code L80
Departure City Joshua Tree
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone ~k
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 9 2003 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 06
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --