Piper PA-28R-180 N3700T

Summary

On 24 May 2000 at about 16:30 local time, a Piper PA-28R-180 registered N3700T was involved in an accident near Tonopah, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 May 2000 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tonopah, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Tonopah Airport (KTPH)

Coordinates

38.3603, -116.2591

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-180

Registration

N3700T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Willits

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA204

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to attain the proper rotation airspeed during initial takeoff and his improper aborted takeoff procedures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A hard landing ensued when the pilot aborted the takeoff just after liftoff from the runway. According to the pilot, he had just refueled his airplane following a cross-country flight to the accident airport. The engine run-up and magneto check before takeoff was normal. As he taxied onto the runway, he noted that the winds were light and temperature was in the 70's. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, he believed he pulled the airplane off the runway prematurely, as the airplane felt like it was in ground effect. He aborted the takeoff to prevent the airplane from stalling, and the airplane dropped several feet onto the runway, damaging the wings and main gear. The pilot stated there were no engine malfunctions during the flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.