Event LAX04LA044

Factual narrative

On November 14, 2003, about 1100 Pacific standard time, an American Champion 7GCAA, N124WD, collided with a series of objects following a loss of directional control while on the landing roll at Whiteman Airport (WHP), Pacoima, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed WHP about 1050 for the local flight in the pattern. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he was performing full-stop takeoff and landings on runway 12. During the rollout on his third landing, about halfway down the runway, the airplane encountered a strong crosswind. The airplane's right wing lifted, and the airplane began to drift to the left. He added full power and a combination of left aileron and rudder input in effort to stay on the runway. The airplane's right wheel collided with a taxiway sign located off the left side of the runway. The airplane continued to the left, crossed a taxiway, and collided with an unoccupied airplane that was parked in the tie-down area. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR), Burbank, California (located 4.4 nautical miles southeast from the accident site), indicated that about 7 minutes prior to the accident winds were calm. The airplane collided with a series of objects following a loss of directional control while on the landing roll. The student pilot reported that he was performing full-stop takeoff and landings. During the rollout on his third landing, about halfway down the runway, the airplane began to drift to the left. He added full power and a combination of left aileron and rudder input in an effort to stay on the runway. The airplane's right wheel collided with a taxiway sign located off the left side of the runway. The airplane continued to the left, crossed a taxiway, and collided with an unoccupied airplane. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. At the time of the accident, winds in the area were reportedly calm. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12