January 6, 2012, Phoenix, Ariz., Piper PA-28-181 Archer II

At about 1548 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged during landing when it veered off the runway. The student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Earlier, during a landing at a different airport, the airplane pulled to the right, but the pilot did not experience a runway excursion. After slowing, the pilot exited the runway, and the airplane taxied normally. The pilot shut down the engine and briefly examined the airplane, but did not observe any anomalies and departed on the next leg of a student cross-country flight.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A student pilot's airplane sustained substantial damage after veering off the runway during landing.
The incident was preceded by an earlier landing where the aircraft also pulled to the right, though a subsequent inspection found no anomalies.
The final runway excursion occurred after the nose gear touched down, leading to significant damage to the landing gear and right wing.

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At about 1548 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged during landing when it veered off the runway. The student pilot was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

Earlier, during a landing at a different airport, the airplane pulled to the right, but the pilot did not experience a runway excursion. After slowing, the pilot exited the runway, and the airplane taxied normally. The pilot shut down the engine and briefly examined the airplane, but did not observe any anomalies and departed on the next leg of a student cross-country flight. The next landing was normal, but once the nosegear touched down, the airplane veered right and departed the runway. The airplane struck a runway distance sign and then a berm. The nose landing gear, right main landing gear, and the right wing sustained significant damage.