Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot stated that he was conducting his second solo flight. After performing maneuvers in the practice area, he returned to the airport to conduct takeoffs and landings. After the second landing, he tried to expedite exiting the runway and attempted to depress the brakes fully. The airplane turned to the right, travelled into a grassy area on the right side of the runway, and impacted a taxiway sign. It sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11CA192 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 15, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Vero Beach Municipal (VRB)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA28
- N-number
- N9212E
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.