What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
When cleared for takeoff pilot taxied to FAR side of runway and lined up on edge line rather from center line. Struck runway edge light with right prop. Pilot statement:on October 14, 1998, at approximately 0430, I was taxiing a Piper chieftain twin engine aircraft, tail number N3BT operating as ameriflight flight #357, for takeoff at phx. I was westbound on taxiway "e" abeam "E2" intersection for runway "8R" at phx when the tower asked if I was ready for take off. My reply was "yes", with a request for an intersection takeoff at "E2". My request was granted, and I turned onto the runway. As I made this turn, I heard a strange noise. For safety, I aborted the takeoff and taxied to parking to inspect the aircraft. Inspection of the right propeller confirmed I hit something. I notified phx ground control of what happened so they could inspect the runway for any debris. While the aircraft was parked at the ameriflight maintenance hanger, phx ops aviation supervisor john sawyer stopped to take pictures of the propeller and asked a few questions about what happened. He stated this was the second incident involving aircraft and runway light on the south runway (8R/26L) that night. During our discussion, I mentioned the difficulty I had seeing the lead in lines and runway markings and he agreed that they were very difficult to see at the "E2" and runway "8R" intersection. He also stated the south runway is scheduled for repainting the following night (October 15, 1998).
As the FAA filed it
WHEN CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF PILOT TAXIED TO FAR SIDE OF RUNWAY AND LINED UP ON EDGE LINE RATHER FROM CENTER LINE. STRUCK RUNWAY EDGE LIGHT WITH RIGHT PROP.PILOT STATEMENT:ON OCTOBER 14, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 0430, I WAS TAXIING A PIPER CHIEFTAIN TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT, TAIL NUMBER N3BT OPERATING AS AMERIFLIGHT FLIGHT #357, FOR TAKEOFF AT PHX. I WAS WESTBOUND ON TAXIWAY "E" ABEAM "E2" INTERSECTION FOR RUNWAY "8R" AT PHX WHEN THE TOWER ASKED IF I WAS READY FOR TAKE OFF. MY REPLY WAS "YES", WITH A REQUEST FOR AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF AT "E2". MY REQUEST WAS GRANTED, AND I TURNED ONTO THE RUNWAY. AS I MADE THIS TURN, I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. FOR SAFETY, I ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND TAXIED TO PARKING TO INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT. INSPECTION OF THE RIGHT PROPELLER CONFIRMED I HIT SOMETHING. I NOTIFIED PHX GROUND CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENED SO THEY COULD INSPECT THE RUNWAY FOR ANY DEBRIS. WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED AT THE AMERIFLIGHT MAINTENANCE HANGER, PHX OPS AVIATION SUPERVISOR JOHN SAWYER STOPPED TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE PROPELLER AND ASKED A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. HE STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVING AIRCRAFT AND RUNWAY LIGHT ON THE SOUTH RUNWAY (8R/26L) THAT NIGHT. DURING OUR DISCUSSION, I MENTIONED THE DIFFICULTY I HAD SEEING THE LEAD IN LINES AND RUNWAY MARKINGS AND HE AGREED THAT THEY WERE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT THE "E2" AND RUNWAY "8R" INTERSECTION. HE ALSO STATED THE SOUTH RUNWAY IS SCHEDULED FOR REPAINTING THE FOLLOWING NIGHT (OCTOBER 15, 1998).
Other reports on N3BT · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.