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WPR11CA126

2011-02-05 · Minden, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport MEV

Current FAA registration · N2603Y

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-181
Year of manufacture
1985 · 26 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19860403
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A281D5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing.

Factual narrative

The student pilot was performing her first solo landing. During the landing roll, the airplane began to swerve from side-to-side. The pilot attempted to apply corrective control inputs, but the airplane departed the runway and collided with a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and belly structure during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot was performing her first solo landing. During the landing roll, the airplane began to swerve right and left. The pilot attempted to apply corrective control inputs, but the airplane departed the runway and collided with a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and belly structure during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_WPR11CA126.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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