PALO ALTO, CA, USA
N8292Y
PIPER PA-34-200T
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 6 TO 10 FT AGL, SOMETHING HIT THE LEFT PROPELLER AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE. HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING, BUT ASSUMED THE PLANE HAD STRUCK A LARGE BIRD. DARKNESS AND THE BAGGAGE DOOR WERE OBSTRUCTING THE PILOT'S VIEW. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND TOUCHED DOWN WITH ABOUT 300 FT OF THE RUNWAY REMAINING. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY, WENT OVER A LOW MOUND AND DOWN A STEEP INCLINE INTO A MUDFLAT, THEN CAME TO REST IN ABOUT 12 TO 18 INCHES OF WATER. THE NOSE BAGGAGE DOOR WAS FOUND OPEN WITH THE LATCH LOCKED AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE LOCKED POSITION. NO EVIDENCE OF A BIRD STRIKE WAS FOUND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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