# NTSB ERA24LA233: Piper PA32RT, N313RB, Palmetto, FL, May 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 30, 2024, 12:17 local (16:17 UTC) - Place: Palmetto, FL - Coordinates: 27.642597, -82.519917 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6426&lon=-82.5199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194353/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194353 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA233 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to re-attempt a takeoff with little runway remaining, after rejecting a takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun at a higher speed and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot flew uneventfully to a nearby turf-runway airport to purchase fuel. He purchased 35 gallons and attempted to takeoff on runway 7, which was 3,120 ft long. About three-fourths down the runway during takeoff roll, the airspeed was increasing, but had not yet reached rotation speed. At that time, a gust of wind lifted the airplane 10 to 15 ft into the air, before it settled back on to the runway. The pilot initiated a rejected takeoff; however, he subsequently did not think the airplane would stop with 800 ft of runway remaining. He then decided to re-apply full power and try to become airborne again. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and came to rest upright in an adjacent watermelon field, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded wind at an airport located 9 miles away from the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 120° at 10 kts, gusting to 16 kts. Had the pilot continued the rejected takeoff, rather than initiate a second takeoff attempt with little runway remaining, the airplane may have traveled off the end of the turf runway and into the watermelon field, but it would have been at a much slower groundspeed, resulting in less or no damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N313RB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N313RB), registered now, S/N 32R-7887157, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT (300T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (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-7887157 - Year built: 1978 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: SPG, Saint Petersburg, FL - Airport: 48X, Manatee Airport, runway 07, 3,120 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 600 total, 13 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: SRQ, 9 nm away - METAR: KSRQ 311553Z AUTO 12010G16KT 10SM CLR 33/17 A3007 ## 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 20240530009099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240530009099A), May 30, 2024: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Palemetto, FL, Destroyed. On Thursday, may 30,2024 the pilot flew to airport 48X to pick up approximately 35 gallons of fuel. After refueling pilot states he taxied to full length of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194353. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17214686&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - POH excerpts (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17224962&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 879 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17215716&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17214519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.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.