# Accident 20020729017619A: Piper PA30, Abilene, KS, July 29, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2002, 14:15 local time
- Place: Abilene, KS
- Airport: Abilene Municipal
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.9039° N, 97.2358° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9039&lon=-97.2358&mi=10
- Aircraft: N90TC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90TC-2007-05-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-30 (registry code 7103002, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA30
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA219) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020729017619A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 29, 2002, AT 1415 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-30, N90TC, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND WIRES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 35 (4,100 FEET BY 75 FEET, DRY ASPHALT) AT THE ABILENE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, ABILENE, KANSAS. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE INTENDED DESTINATION WAS HARTINGTON, NEBRASKA. (-23) PILOT INITIATED FIRST TAKE OFF ON RUNWAY 17. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95 DEGREES, DEW POINT WAS 63, WIND WAS 220 AT 10 KTS. THE AIRCRAFT HAS STC SA727WE, BRITTAIN WING TIP TANKS INSTALLED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULL OF FUEL. THE PILOT INDICATED HIS TAKE OFF WEIGHT WAS 3542#. THERE WAS ONLY ONE OCCUPANT ON BOARD. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF THE PIC NOTICED AIR NOISE COMING FROM THE CABIN ENTRY DOOR. HE ATTEMPTED TO QUIETEN IT TO NO AVAIL. HE EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LANDED ON RUNWAY 35. HE SECURED THE DOOR AND EXECUTED A TAKE OFF FROM THAT POINT ON THE RUNWAY INTO THE NORTH. THE PIC ESTIMATED HE HAD APPROXIMATELY 3000' OF RUNWAY LEFT. AIRCRAFT CONTA                   CTED UTILITY WIRES AND TREES APPROXIMATELY 250 YARDS NORTH OF THE END OF RUNWAY 17, CONTACTED THE GROUND AND SLID TO REST FACING EAST. THE PIC AND EYE WITNESSES INDICATED THERE WERE NO KNOWN MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CHI02LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA219), Jul 29, 2002: Piper PA-30 (N90TC), Abilene, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to achieve clearance over the trees and wires. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot failed to use all available runway, a downwind takeoff was performed, the tailwind,…

## Other reports on N90TC (1)

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

- [Incident 19970719022869I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970719022869I), Jul 19, 1997: Piper PA30 (N90TC), Cincinnati, OH, Minor damage. Landed short of runway. Beinnial flight review expired.

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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