# Accident 20000524008829A: Piper PA28R180, Tonopah, NV, May 24, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 2000, 09:30 local time
- Place: Tonopah, NV
- Airport: Tonopah
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3603° N, 116.2591° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3603&lon=-116.2591&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3700T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3700T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-180 (registry code 7102809, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28R180
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA204) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000524008829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON MAY 24, 2000, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER, ON THE AIRCRAFT PIPER PA-28R-180, N3700T, DEPARTED FROM WILLITS MUNI (O28), ENROUTE TO TONOPAH (TPH), LANDED ANT TOPPED OFF THE FUEL TANKS ON THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER FUELING THE AIRCRAFT THEY TAXIED TO RUNWAY 33, WHERE THE PILOT DID A RUN UP AND FOUND THAT ALL SYSTEMS WERE NORMAL.  CONTINUED TAXIING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 0930 AM PDT.  THE WIND WAS LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE WAS 70 TO 75 DEGREES.  ON THE TAKE OFF ROLL AT ABOUT 3800 FT. FROM THE RUNWAY NUMBERS, THE PILOT PREMATUERLY PULLED THE AIRCRAFT OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED SETTLING WHIEL SILL IN GROUND EFFECT.  THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKE OFF BY NOSING THE AIRCRAFT OVER TO PREVENT A STALL.  THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED SEVERAL FEET IMPACTING HARD ON RUNWAY, RESULTING IN SEPARTING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TRUSS ASSEMBLY FROM THE LINK ASSEMBLY.  THE TRUSS ASSEMBLY WEDGED INTO THE UPPER BULKHEAD, FIXING THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL TO TRACK AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE.  ON IMPACT THE RIGHT WING BUCKLED AT THE TOP INBOARD SKIN ASSEMBLY AT THE MAIN SPAR, WITH BUCKLING AT THE BOTTOM SKIN OUTBOARD OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR DOOR.  THE LEFT WING WRINKLED AT THE TOP OUTBOARD OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR DOOR.  THE  LEFT BOTTOM WING SKIN WAS WRINKLED JUST OUTBOARD OF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR DOOR. PILOT TAXIED THE DAMAGED AIRCRAFT TO THE REQUIRES TIE DOWN AREA, WITH NO OCCUPANTS INJURIED AND NO POST FIRE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX00LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA204), May 24, 2000: Piper PA-28R-180 (N3700T), Tonopah, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain the proper rotation airspeed during initial takeoff and his improper aborted takeoff procedures.

## Other reports on N3700T (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19840125011799I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840125011799I), Jan 25, 1984: Piper PA28R180 (N3700T), Palm Springs, CA, Minor damage. Touchdown with nose gear retracted. Found hydraulic reservoir empty. Hydraulic lines contained air. No leaks.
- [Incident 19810515039789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810515039789I), May 15, 1981: Piper PA28R180 (N3700T), Vacaville, CA, Minor damage. Nose gear downlock part number 6715003 broke during crosswind landing with prop damage. Pilot had gearsafe light.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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