Piper PA 28-181 N720GP

Summary

On 25 November 2004 at about 12:30 local time, a Piper PA 28-181 registered N720GP, operated by Thomas J. Olson, was involved in an accident near York, Pennsylvania, United States. 4 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

25 November 2004 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

York, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

York (THV)

Coordinates

39.9169, -76.8728

Aircraft

Piper PA 28-181

Registration

N720GP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas J. Olson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

York → Raleigh/Durham

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD05CA018

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and his decision to depart from a rain-soaked runway with strong quartering tailwinds, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with a fence during the aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was advised of heavy rain in the area of the departure airport, and he decided to delay the takeoff for 30 minutes. While he waited, the pilot was contacted by the departure controller and advised that there was a "hole" to the west, and was offered a clearance. The pilot accepted the clearance and taxied to runway 17 in light rain. During the takeoff roll, the wind increased, the rain fell harder, and the pilot struggled to maintain directional control. At 55 knots, about the midpoint of the 5,100-foot runway, the takeoff was aborted but the airplane overran the runway and struck a fence beyond the departure end. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and that the airplane hydroplaned on the large amounts of standing water on the runway. The weather reported at the airport included winds from 300 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 27 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.