HONDO, TX, USA
N6695W
PIPER PA-28-140
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND SHIFTED TO A TAIL WIND AFTER HE BOARDED THE AIRPLANE FOR TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DOWN THE 2,000 FOOT GRASS STRIP AND THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB. HE ELECTED TO ABORT AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY RAN OFF THE END OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A PLOWED FIELD AND NOSED OVER. NUMEROUS ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME.
On Saturday, June 19, 1993, at approximately 1658 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6695W, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a rejected takeoff at a private strip near Hondo, Texas. The airplane, owned by the commercial pilot, was departing on a local personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Neither the pilot, nor the three passengers, were injured. The pilot stated that when he was preparing for the flight the wind was steady out of the southwest, he therefore elected to takeoff to the south. He further stated that he broke ground about three quarters of the way down the 2,000 foot grass strip, but, the airplane would not climb. He then aborted the takeoff and touched back down on the strip. The airplane subsequently ran off the end of the runway into a plowed field and nosed over. The pilot stated that when he exited the airplane, he noticed that the wind was out of the north. He further stated that he had just mowed the strip and the grass was between one and two inches high and not "too" wet. Numerous isolated thunderstorms were in the area at the time.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER WHICH LED TO THE DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. FACTORS WERE THE WINDSHIFT AND THE TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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