# NTSB CHI02LA219: Piper PA-30, N90TC, Abilene, KS, July 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2002, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Abilene, KS - Coordinates: 38.903888, -97.235832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9039&lon=-97.2358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Wichita FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55330/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55330 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA219 ## 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, trees, and wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - wrong runway - used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with trees and wires shortly after takeoff from runway 35, 4,100 feet long. According to the pilot he originally departed the airport on runway 17, then returned due to an unlatched door. The landing was made on runway 35. After touching down, the pilot stopped the airplane on the runway and relatched the door. He then continued the takeoff from where he had stopped on the runway. The takeoff was made to the north with approximately 3,000 feet of runway remaining. The pilot stated the airplane became airborne with approximately 1,000 feet of runway remaining. The pilot reported that he retracted the gear right after takeoff and he stayed in ground effect trying to gain airspeed. The airplane contacted trees and wires which were located about 250 yards off the departure end of the runway. The wires that there contacted were approximately 14 feet above the ground. Another set of wires above those contacted were at a height of about 20 feet above the ground. The higher wires were not damaged. The pilot reported that he was aware of the wires. One witness reported the airplane became airborne approximately 30 feet before the end of the runway. The closest weather reporting station, 21 miles west of the accident site, reported wind from 220 degrees at 10 knots. This observation was taken 23 minutes after the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2002, at 1530 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. The pilot reported that he departed the airport on runway 17 with calm winds. He reported that while climbing out, his door became unlatched. He made a 180 degree turn back to the airport where he landed on runway 35. The pilot stated the winds had switched "to north" at this time. After touching down, he stopped the airplane on the runway and relatched the door. The pilot then continued the takeoff from where he had stopped on the runway. The takeoff was made to the north with approximately 3,000 feet of runway remaining. The pilot stated the airplane became airborne with approximately 1,000 feet of runway remaining. The pilot reported that he retracted the gear right after takeoff and he stayed in ground effect trying to gain airspeed. The airplane contacted trees and wires which were located about 250 yards off the departure end of the runway. The wires that there contacted were approximately 14 feet above the ground. Another set of wires above those contacted were at a height of about 20 feet above the ground. The higher wires were not damaged. The pilot reported that he was aware of the wires and he pulled the power off prior to contacting the wires. A witness to the accident reported hearing the airplane engines operating normally during the takeoff. He reported the airplane did not appear to be moving very fast on the runway and it became airborne about 30 feet prior to the end of the runway. The witness reported the airplane did not appear to be moving fast after it lifted off and that it "stayed low with a very gradual climb and then dipped momentarily before climbing again." He stated he heard tree limbs breaking, the engine sounds quit, then he heard the impact. The closest weather reporting station was at Salina, Kansas, located approximately 21 nautical miles west of Abilene. The Salina weather reported at 1553 indicated with winds were from 220 degrees at 10 knots. Calculated density altitude at the time of the accident was approximately 3,780 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90TC-2007-05-19), registration cancelled 2007-05-19, S/N 30-147, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-30 - Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30-147 - Airframe hours: 6332 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenneth E. Stout - Registered owner: Stout & Deines, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 2002, 158 hours before - Departed: K78, Abilene, KS - Destination: 0B4, Hartington, NE - Airport: K78, Abilene Municipal, runway 35, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 14, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 8,174 total, 750 in this make and model, 95 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: SLN, 21 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 20020729017619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020729017619A), Jul 29, 2002: Piper PA30, Abilene, KS, No damage. (.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… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 17, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55330. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Interviews (item 2, .PDF, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interviews-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Wires Which Were Contacted (item 4, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Wires%20Which%20Were%20Contacted-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Left Front View of N90TC (item 5, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Left%20Front%20View%20of%20N90TC-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Broken Tree Limbs (item 6, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20Broken%20Tree%20Limbs-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Close-up of Right Wing On N90TC (item 7, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20Close-up%20of%20Right%20Wing%20On%20N90TC-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Wire Visible Through Nose of N90TC (item 8, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20Wire%20Visible%20Through%20Nose%20of%20N90TC-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Damage To Top of Right Wing (item 9, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40178307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20%20Damage%20To%20Top%20of%20Right%20Wing-Master.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.