- 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.
On this page
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.
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.