# NTSB Accident WPR13CA219
> **PIPER PA-28** · 2013-05-07 · Cottonwood, AZ, USA · SERS
## Event
- **NTSB number:** WPR13CA219
- **Event ID:** 20130507X41157
- **Type:** Accident
- **Date:** 2013-05-07
- **Location:** Cottonwood, AZ, USA
- **Coordinates:** 34.729999, -112.035003
## Injuries
- **Highest injury:** SERS
- **Fatal:** 0
- **Serious:** 1
- **Minor:** 0
- **Uninjured:** 0
- **Total aboard:** 1
## Aircraft
- **Make:** PIPER
- **Model:** PA-28
- **Registration:** N47717
- **FAR Part:** 091
- **Engines:** 1
- **Damage:** SUBS
## Conditions
- **Light:** NITE
- **Weather:** VMC
## Probable cause

The student pilot's decision to attempt a night landing on an unlit runway, which resulted in a misaligned approach and subsequent collision with a fence.  Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's improper set-up of the airplane radios, which resulted in his inability to activate the airport runway lights, and his mistaken identification of building lights for runway lights.

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*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=WPR13CA219) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*