Glendale Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glendale, Arizona 85031
Friday, August 21, 2009 9:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot was on his first solo flight. He reported that the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, but then quickly veered to the right. He tried to correct with left brake, however the airplane continued off the runway and collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and stabilator. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Glendale
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85031
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333137N
Event Location Longitude 1121743W
Event Location Airport Glendale
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GEU
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 1071
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 848 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KGEU
Elevation of weather observation facility 1071
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 15000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26119
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2009 3:33PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N424PA
NTSB Number WPR09CA410
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 PA28
Aircraft Series Identifier 181
Aircraft Serial Number 2843468
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jul 26 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 9643
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BIRD ACQUISITION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WELLESLEY
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02481
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Trans Pac Aviation Academy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Phoenix
Operator State AZ
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 85027
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GEU
Departure City Glendale
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 845
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GEU
Destination City Glendale
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2009 3:33PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19
Runway Length 7150
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --