CHI94LA173

Factual narrative

On May 24, 1994, at 1150 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28R- 201, registered to the University of North Dakota, and operated by a student pilot, lost directional control on landing on runway 35R (3,900' X 75' dry/concrete) at the Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks, North Dakota. The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a runway sign and the terrain. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. The solo instructional flight had filed a VFR flight plan. The last point of departure was Jamestown, North Dakota, at 1056. The pilot stated that he had difficulty making the airplane turn to the right, while he felt it required "heavy" control to turn left. A policeman who observed the track of the airplane indicated that there were skid marks from the right landing gear going off the runway. A subsequent examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical problems with either brake. The landing was performed on runway 35R. The winds at the approximate time of the accident were reported as 340 degrees at 10 knots. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 35R WITH THE WIND REPORTED AS 340 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS WHEN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY STRIKING A SIGN AND TERRAIN. NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE FOUND ON EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12