What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 31, 2014, at approximately 1833 CDT, a foxtrot-4 kit built bearing registration number N729AR, departed runway 17R at Abilene Regional (kabi). After takeoff, the aircraft declared an emergency with tower controller and executed a 180 degree turn to return to the airport. The aircraft crashed 1/4 mile south of the arrival end of runway 35L destroying the aircraft and throwing three of the four occupants out of the aircraft. All occupants were wearing seatbelts and shoulder harnesses. The aircraft departed south and crash landed on a north heading. The aircraft was being operated on a pleasure flight. Visual meterological conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR flight plan was not filed. The aircraft was destroyed, and the certificated pilot and the front passenger were fatally injured. Two passengers in the rear sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Abilene Regional Airport.
Shortly after the crash, the Abilene police department was first on the scene.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 31, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 1833 CDT, A FOXTROT-4 KIT BUILT BEARING REGISTRATION NUMBER N729AR, DEPARTED RUNWAY 17R AT ABILENE REGIONAL (KABI). AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH TOWER CONTROLLER AND EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF THE ARRIVAL END OF RUNWAY 35L DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT AND THROWING THREE OF THE FOUR OCCUPANTS OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED SOUTH AND CRASH LANDED ON A NORTH HEADING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT. VISUAL METEROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE CERTIFICATED PILOT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT.
SHORTLY AFTER THE CRASH, THE ABILENE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS FIRST ON THE SCENE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N729AR · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.