Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA32RT near Palmetto, FL — 2024-05-30

Final reportERA24LA233
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Date
2024-05-30
Location
Palmetto, FL, USA
Airport
48X
Aircraft
PIPER PA32RT
Registration
N313RB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to re-attempt a takeoff with little runway remaining, after rejecting a takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun at a higher speed and collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot flew uneventfully to a nearby turf-runway airport to purchase fuel. He purchased 35 gallons and attempted to takeoff on runway 7, which was 3,120 ft long. About three-fourths down the runway during takeoff roll, the airspeed was increasing, but had not yet reached rotation speed. At that time, a gust of wind lifted the airplane 10 to 15 ft into the air, before it settled back on to the runway. The pilot initiated a rejected takeoff; however, he subsequently did not think the airplane would stop with 800 ft of runway remaining. He then decided to re-apply full power and try to become airborne again. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and came to rest upright in an adjacent watermelon field, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded wind at an airport located 9 miles away from the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 120° at 10 kts, gusting to 16 kts. Had the pilot continued the rejected takeoff, rather than initiate a second takeoff attempt with little runway remaining, the airplane may have traveled off the end of the turf runway and into the watermelon field, but it would have been at a much slower groundspeed, resulting in less or no damage.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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