N627SP

On April 3, 2002, about 1030 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, N627SP, collided with a taxiway sign during the landing roll at Palm Springs, California. The Flight School at Palm Springs was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed about 1000. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The student was practicing landings on his second supervised solo. He completed five touch-and-go landings, and the sixth was to be a full stop landing. During the landing roll, the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The airplane departed the runway, but the student pilot was able to guide it back onto the runway. During the excursion, the airplane collided with a runway edge light and taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The student thought he might have inadvertently hit the brakes during the landing and pulled the plane to the left.

The Safety Board was notified of the accident on April 8, 2002.