# NTSB CHI02LA162: Piper PA-32R-300, N38709, Beaumont, KS, June 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 2002, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Beaumont, KS - Coordinates: 37.669841, -96.550598 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6698&lon=-96.5506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA162 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54942/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54942 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA162 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his failure to abort the takeoff when he realized the aircraft was not accelerating as expected. The wet and muddy turf runway was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged following an impact with trees on takeoff from a wet and muddy grass airstrip. The pilot stated that it had rained the day and night before the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane did not reach rotation speed by the end of the runway and that he should have aborted takeoff after realizing the aircraft was too slow for liftoff. No anomolies with respect to the airframe, powerplant, or systems were determined to have existed prior to impact. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2002, at 1000 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32R-300, N38709, piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged following impact with trees on takeoff roll from runway 18 (2,400 feet by 80 feet, turf) at the Beaumont Hotel Airport (SN07), Beaumont, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and two passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Eureka Municipal Airport (13K), Eureka, Kansas. The pilot reported that it had rained the day and night before the accident, and that he inquired about the condition of the runway prior to his departure. The pilot stated in a written statement, "No one expressed any conern about the runway. I was reminded that there was a big event there the previous weekend with about 40 aircraft coming and going. I made mental note of that." The pilot stated in a written statement, "I did the engine runup and set takeoff flaps and trim while taxiing. I kept the aircraft rolling at the north end of the runway as I turned south and applied takeoff power. Prop was full increase, mixture was full rich. The airplane was slow to accelerate. The airplane was going about 50 knots when I hit the last 500 [feet] of the runway where it is more steep. I figured the airplane would accelerate more easily at that point and take off. It did not. Instead, I ran into some mud which kept the airplane from accelerating. I tried to get airborne. The plane was just clearing the ground with the left wing hit a tree and the right gear hit a power pole laying on the ground. The airplane settled back to the ground and slid about 300-400 [feet] in the mud coming to rest against a railway berm." The pilot reported that he, "...should have been more quick to recognize the failure of the plane to accelerate and should have aborted the takeoff." No anomolies with repect to the airframe, powerplant, or systems were determined to have existed prior to impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38709](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38709-2003-07-09), registration cancelled 2003-07-09, S/N 32R-7780463, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-32R-300 - Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7780463 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-KI-G50 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael T. Webster - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SN07, Beaumont, KS - Destination: 13K, Eureka, KS - Airport: SN07, Beaumont Hotel, runway 18, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 606 total, 95 in this make and model, 481 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: AAO, 32 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020613012209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020613012209A), Jun 13, 2002: Piper PA32R300, Beaumont, KS, No damage. (-23) The pilot attempted a downhill south takeoff on the 2200 feet north/south private runway of the Beaumont Hotel, Beaumont, KS. Runway conditions at the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54942. 451 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 451 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.