Primary finding
Probable cause
the student pilot's attempt to exit the runway at an excessive taxi speed which resulted in his loss of control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was practicing solo takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. The controllers instructed the pilot to expedite turning off the active runway due to traffic on short final. The pilot attempted to turn off at a high-speed diagonal exit and was too fast to make the turn onto the taxiway. The aircraft then collided with three parked aircraft.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 30, 1994, at 1133 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA28- 161, N4359C, collided with parked aircraft while exiting the runway after landing at San Carlos, California. The aircraft was operated by Transair Flight School of San Carlos, California, and was rented by the pilot for a local area student solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the San Carlos airport on the day of the accident at 1030 hours. According to information received from the pilot, the pilot's flight instructor and controllers in the air traffic control tower at San Carlos, the pilot was practicing solo takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern. The controllers instructed the pilot to expedite turning off the active runway due to traffic on short final. The pilot attempted to turn off at a high speed diagonal exit and was too fast to make the turn onto the taxiway. The aircraft then collided with three parked aircraft. -