# NTSB LAX00LA204: Piper PA-28R-180, N3700T, Tonopah, NV, May 24, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 2000, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Tonopah, NV - Coordinates: 38.360263, -116.259056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3603&lon=-116.2591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49272/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA204 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper rotation airspeed during initial takeoff and his improper aborted takeoff procedures. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - airspeed(vr) - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis A hard landing ensued when the pilot aborted the takeoff just after liftoff from the runway. According to the pilot, he had just refueled his airplane following a cross-country flight to the accident airport. The engine run-up and magneto check before takeoff was normal. As he taxied onto the runway, he noted that the winds were light and temperature was in the 70's. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, he believed he pulled the airplane off the runway prematurely, as the airplane felt like it was in ground effect. He aborted the takeoff to prevent the airplane from stalling, and the airplane dropped several feet onto the runway, damaging the wings and main gear. The pilot stated there were no engine malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2000, at 0930 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N3700T, landed hard after an aborted takeoff during initial climb at Tonopah, Nevada. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage during the hard landing. The pilot did not file a flight plan, and the airplane was being flown under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was destined for Willits, California, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he departed Willits at 0630, and continued on to Tonopah where he landed on runway 33. He described the winds at the time as "light." He said he taxied to the fuel pump and topped off the fuel tanks. After refueling the airplane, he taxied to runway 33 for departure. He stated he did a run-up and magneto check, which appeared to be normal. He said he taxied onto the active runway approximately 0930. He said the winds were light and the temperature was about 70 to 75 degrees. On the takeoff roll he said he pulled the airplane off prematurely as the airplane felt "like it was in ground effect." The pilot said at that point, he felt he needed to abort the takeoff to prevent a stall. He said the airplane dropped several feet onto the concrete runway, damaging the main gear and wings. The pilot told investigators that he did not have an engine problem but that the takeoff seemed "mushy." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3700T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3700T), registered now, S/N 28R-30004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30004 - Airframe hours: 3828 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-BIE 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David J. Shelton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 1999, 30 hours before - Departed: TPH, NV - Destination: 028, WILLITS, CA - Airport: KTPH, Tonopah Airport, runway 33, 7,057 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,120 total, 431 in this make and model, 1,047 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 178 °F, dew point 118 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TPH, 1 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 20000524008829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000524008829A), May 24, 2000: Piper PA28R180, Tonopah, NV, No damage. (-23) On may 24, 2000, the pilot and passenger, on the aircraft Piper PA-28R-180, N3700T, departed from willits muni (O28), enroute to Tonopah (tph), landed… 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.