Event LAX97LA327

Factual narrative

On September 13, 1997, at 0945 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N56474, collided with a taxiway sign following an on ground loss of control while landing at Tucson, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by a co-owner of the aircraft. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated in Tucson at 0925. This was the first solo flight for the student pilot. The Safety Board was notified of the substantial damage and the accident status on September 19, 1997. The accident had originally been classified as an incident. The student pilot stated in her written report that the "landing was lined up too far to the left side of the runway." The left main gear went off the runway and the aircraft struck a taxiway sign, continued across the taxiway, and came to rest beyond the taxiway A11. The pilot reported a total of 21 hours of flight time in this particular aircraft. The student pilot, who was on her first supervised solo, was attempting to line up for landing on runway 11R. The wind was from 190 degrees at 7 knots. The student said the airplane was lined up too far to the left side of the runway, and the left main landing gear went off the pavement following touchdown. The airplane subsequently struck a taxiway sign. The pilot had a total of 21 hours to total flight experience, all in the accident aircraft. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12