Skip to content

LAX87LA204

1987-05-10 · CHANDLER, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport P10

Current FAA registration · N2315V

Make / Model
PIPER PA-38-112
Engine
LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19811022
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A20F52

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT, THE STUDENT PLT HAD CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING A SOFT FIELD TAKE-OFF. THE STUDENT DID NOT KEEP THE ACFT ALIGNED WITH THE CENTERLINE EVEN AFTER THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO ADD RIGHT RUDDER TO STOP THE DRIFT. JUST PRIOR TO LIFT-OFF THE INSTRUCTOR HAD TO ADD RIGHT RUDDER, AND WHEN THE ACFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER. THE INSTRUCTOR WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE ACFT ON THE RWY. THE ACFT WAS JUST AIRBORNE AT THIS TIME THEN TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN APRX 6 FT FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY. THE ACFT TRAVELED APRX 80 FT AIRBORNE WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A TAXIWAY SIGN AND SHEARED THE GEAR OFF. THE INSTRUCTOR THEN LANDED THE ACFT ON THE RWY. THE TAXI SIGN WAS APPROX 8 FEET FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY. FAA AC 150/5340-18B STATES THAT INFORMATION SIGNS ARE TO BE LOCATED 10 FT FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1987_LAX87LA204.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.