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WPR23LA148

2023-04-08 · Mesa, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KFFZ

Current FAA registration · N9366J

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-180
Year of manufacture
1966 · 57 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19660706
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ACFF26

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that during a solo flight, shortly after touchdown, he applied brakes and it felt like the airplane started to skid. He attempted to correct, but the airplane veered to the left and hit a taxiway sign, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA148.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.