Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll and the check airman’s delayed remedial response.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that he completed five touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During the last landing rollout, the airplane was traveling about 5 knots when it began to veer to the right. The pilot tried to correct by applying left rudder and left brake. The airplane continued drifting to the right and the check airman applied left brake. The airplane subsequently departed the runway and collided with a taxiway sign. The right main gear folded and the wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. During a postaccident examination of the airplane no mechanical anomalies with the brakes or other airplane systems were found.
Source record
Factual narrative
On January 8, 2010, about 0700 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N29285, veered off the runway and collided with a sign at Apple Valley, California. Midfield Aviation was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated private pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) check pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aileron. The local instructional flight departed Apple Valley about 0600. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot completed five touch-and-go landings on runway 18. The airplane was going about 5 knots on the last landing rollout when it began to veer to the right. The pilot tried to correct with the left rudder and left brake. The airplane continued drifting to the right, and the check airman applied left brake. The airplane departed the runway and collided with a taxiway sign. The right main gear folded; the wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The owner of the airplane was a Federal Aviation Administration certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. He examined the airplane after the accident, and completed the repairs. He stated that he discovered no mechanical anomalies with the brakes or other airplane systems during the repair.