Piper PA-24-250 N7748P accident near West Chicago, Illinois

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot stated in a telephone interview that he had performed 7 or 8 solo landings on the same day on the same runway. He said that when the accident happened he was performing a touch-and-go and had touched down on the first third of the runway on the main landing wheels. When the airplane's nose was lowered and the nose landing gear contacted the ground, the airplane turned toward the right side of the runway. The pilot reported that he attempted to correct with aileron and rudder inputs, but did not use the airplane's brakes. The airplane continued off of the paved runway and struck two runway lights and a taxiway sign. The pilot stated that he continued across the grass area and stopped the airplane on the adjacent taxiway. He then taxied the airplane to the ramp. No pre-impact damage was found with regard to the airplane's landing gear, nose wheel steering system, or braking system.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA221 for the full record.