# Accident 20140831017809A: Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4, Abilene, TX, August 31, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2014, 18:33 local time
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Airport: Abilene Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4014° N, 99.6817° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4014&lon=-99.6817&mi=10
- Aircraft: N729AR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N729AR-2018-03-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4 (registry code 05633CS, https://openairdocs.org/model/schafer-rick-w-foxtrot-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1F5 (registry code 41672, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1f5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHAFER RICK W FOXTROT 4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-K1F5
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14FA468](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA468) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140831017809A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN14FA468](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14FA468), Aug 31, 2014: Schafer Rick W Foxtrot 4 (N729AR), Abilene, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to attempt a steep turn to return to the airport after reporting an emergency. The reason for the emergency could not be determined because postaccident examination of the…

## Other reports on N729AR (1)

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

- [Incident 20140801013449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140801013449I), Aug 1, 2014: Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4 (N729AR), Oshkosh, WI, Minor damage. 08/01/2014, N729AR, foxtrot 4, a kit built composit, low wing, fixed gear aircraft at airventure Oshkosh Wisconsin sustained a partially collasped left landing…

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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