Abilene Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Abilene, Kansas 67410
Monday, July 29, 2002 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/29/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Abilene
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 67410
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385414N
Event Location Longitude 0971409W
Event Location Airport Abilene Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID K78
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 350
Airport Elevation 1152
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID SLN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1273
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) 3780
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13243
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 29 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1917
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 23 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Wichita, KS FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90TC
NTSB Number CHI02LA219
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-30
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 30-147
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 31 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 158
Airframe Hours 6332
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Stout & Deines, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1 Financial Plaza
Aircraft Owner City Woodbine
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67492
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Kenneth E. Stout
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1 Financial Plaza
Operator City Woodbine
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 67492
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code K78
Departure City Abilene
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 0B4
Destination City Hartington
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 17 2003 8:34AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 4100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --