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Atlas / NTSB / LAX05CA098

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX05CA098

2005-02-16 Chandler, Arizona, United States Airport · CHD None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the students pilot's failure to maintain directional control resulting in a collision with the taxiway sign.

Factual narrative

On February 16, 2005, about 1720 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N80565, veered off the runway and collided with a taxiway sign at Chandler, Arizona. Chandler Air Service, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed Chandler about 1620. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2). He stated that he departed Chandler Municipal and remained in the south practice area for approximately 35 minutes. He then returned to Chandler airport to perform touch-and-go landings. After completing six touch-and-go's he performed a full stop landing on runway 22 right to terminate the lesson. The landing was normal, but shortly after all three wheels were down, he applied brake, which caused the airplane to skid. The airplane started a skid and he attempted to straighten the airplane out. The airplane veered to the right-hand side of the runway where it came in contract with a taxiway sign, which spun the airplane causing damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The airplane veered off the runway during landing, and collided with a taxiway sign. After completing six touch and go's the student pilot performed a full stop landing on runway 22 right to terminate the lesson. The landing was normal, but shortly after all three wheels were down, he applied the brakes, which caused the airplane to skid. He attempted to straighten the airplane out but the airplane veered to the right-hand side of the runway where it came in contract with a taxiway sign, which spun the airplane and caused damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The winds were calm at the time of the event. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2005_LAX05CA098.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.