FTW95LA321

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-28R-201 · San Antonio, TX · July 28, 1995

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 28, 1995, 17:29 local (22:29 UTC)
Place
San Antonio, TX
Injuries
1 serious, 2 minor
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N36085Piper PA-28R-201
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 19, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950728020179A
Case key
19517

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The dual student's delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunTakeoff - aborted
Aborted takeoff - delayedDual studentCause
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Factor
On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff - aborted
Object - fence

Analysis

The private pilot dual student reported that a short field landing was executed. During the subsequent takeoff, 'I retracted the flaps and then applied full power, we started the takeoff roll waiting for the airspeed to increase, the airplane lifted off, but we were unable to achieve a positive rate of climb so I decided to abort the takeoff.' The flight nstructor reported that during takeoff, the student 'unexpectedly retarded the throttle...landed...and began to apply the brakes in accordance with the normal training procedures.' He further stated that 'within 1 to 2 seconds after landing, I applied full brakes as well. After a few more seconds, it was apparent that we were not slowing down enough to stop by the end of the runway. Under the circumstances, the best decision was to maintain control of the airplane and go straight off the end of the runway.' The aircraft subsequently impacted a fence beyond the departure end of the runway. The left fuel tank ruptured during the collision with the fence and the airplane caught fire and burned.

Factual narrative

On July 28, 1995, at 1729 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper PA-28R-201, N36085, was destroyed during an aborted takeoff near San Antonio, Texas. The certificated flight instructor sustained serious injuries; the pilot-rated dual student and one passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft, owned and operated by Wright Flyers, Inc., departed San Antonio International Airport (SAT), San Antonio, Texas at 1615 CDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight and no flight plan was filed.

In the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the dual student reported that a short field landing was executed. During the subsequent takeoff, "I retracted the flaps and then applied full power, we started the takeoff roll waiting for the airspeed to increase, the airplane lifted off, but we were unable to achieve a positive rate of climb so I decided to abort the takeoff."

The instructor pilot reported in his enclosed report, that during takeoff, the student "unexpectedly retarded the throttle...landed...and began to apply the brakes in accordance with the normal training procedures." He further stated that "within 1 to 2 seconds after landing, I applied full brakes as well. After a few more seconds, it was apparent that we were not slowing down enough to stop by the end of the runway. Under the circumstances, the best decision was to maintain control of the airplane and go straight off the end of the runway." The aircraft subsequently impacted a fence beyond the departure end of the runway. "The left [fuel] tank was ruptured by the fence and [the aircraft] immediately caught on fire."

Aircraft

Registration
N36085
Reported as
Piper PA-28R-201
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28R-7837264
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-C1C6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Wright Flyers, Inc.
Departed
SSF
Airport
SSF · Stinson Municipal, runway 14, 4,129 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
27
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
965 total · 93 in this make and model · 867 as pilot in command · 132 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
102 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.