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LAX94LA049

1993-11-17 · FRESNO, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FCH

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

was the student pilot's improper use of the rudder. The student pilot's lack of total experience was a factor in this accident.

Factual narrative

On November 17, 1993, at 1310 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA38-112, N2346G, lost control and collided with a taxi sign while taking off from runway 30L at Chandler Airport, Fresno, California. The noncertificated student pilot was conducting his second supervised solo local visual flight rules instructional flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Golden Eagle Enterprises, dba Mazzei Flying Services, sustained substantial damage. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The student pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that during the takeoff roll the airplane began to swerve to the left. He applied right rudder and brake, but was unable to maintain directional control. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS BEGINNING HIS SECOND SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT. THE STUDENT PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE RUDDER DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE AIRPLANE SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH A TAXI SIGN. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_LAX94LA049.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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