ROCK HILL, SC, USA
N7173R
Piper PA-28-140
After landing the airplane started to drift to the right of the runway. The airplane departed the runway, and collided with a ditch that ran parallel to the runway. According to the pilot this was his first solo landing. The student pilot had a total of 50 hours flying time, and 6.4 hour in this kind of airplane.
On May 10, 1999, about 1540 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N7173R, registered to a private individual, impacted with a ditch after landing at the Rock Hill Airport, Rock Hill, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the same airport at 1500. The airplane landed on runway 02, and started to drift to the right of the runway. The airplane departed the runway, and collided with a ditch that ran parallel to the runway. According to the pilot this was his first solo landing. He stated, "...final approach was normal, I noticed that a slight cross-wind had developed. When the nose gear touched the plane inexplicably turned sharply right." The student pilot had a total of 50 hours flying time, and 6.4 hour in this make and model airplane.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Related factors were the crosswind and the pilot's lack of experience.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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