Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control, and his inadequate remedial action. Factors include a fence in the vicinity of the runway.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, the aircraft began to porpoise after a bounced landing, and he lost directional control while attempting to recover. As the aircraft began to depart the runway, the pilot attempted remedial action, but was unable to keep the aircraft from exiting the runway and impacting a fence.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 24, 1994, at 1146 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Beech 23, N2371Z, impacted a fence during the landing roll at Paine Field, Everett, Washington. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The solo instructional flight, which departed the same location about 10 minutes earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, the aircraft began to porpoise after a bounced landing, and he lost directional control while attempting to recover. As the aircraft began to depart the runway, the pilot attempted remedial action, but was unable to keep the aircraft from exiting the runway and impacting a fence. Although the student pilot talked to the IIC by phone immediately after the accident, he would not return future calls, and did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that was mailed to him. A second 6120.1/2 was sent by certified mail, but was not able to be delivered by the U. S. Postal Service. -