Piper PA32RT accident near Palmetto, Florida, May 30, 2024
On May 30, 2024 at about 4:17 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA32RT, registered N313RB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Palmetto, Florida (Manatee Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision to re-attempt a takeoff with little runway remaining, after rejecting a takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway overrun at a higher speed and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2024 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Palmetto, Florida · Manatee Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32RT 300T, built 1978 · all PA32RTs on the register
- Registration
- N313RB · registry record · serial 32R-7887157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew uneventfully to a nearby turf-runway airport to purchase fuel. He purchased 35 gallons and attempted to takeoff on runway 7, which was 3,120 ft long. About three-fourths down the runway during takeoff roll, the airspeed was increasing, but had not yet reached rotation speed. At that time, a gust of wind lifted the airplane 10 to 15 ft into the air, before it settled back on to the runway. The pilot initiated a rejected takeoff; however, he subsequently did not think the airplane would stop with 800 ft of runway remaining. He then decided to re-apply full power and try to become airborne again. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway and came to rest upright in an adjacent watermelon field, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded wind at an airport located 9 miles away from the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 120° at 10 kts, gusting to 16 kts. Had the pilot continued the rejected takeoff, rather than initiate a second takeoff attempt with little runway remaining, the airplane may have traveled off the end of the turf runway and into the watermelon field, but it would have been at a much slower groundspeed, resulting in less or no damage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 3,160 hours total
The flight
- Destination: SPG Saint Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 07, 3,120 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from SRQ, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSRQ 311553Z AUTO 12010G16KT 10SM CLR 33/17 A3007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Front View of Main Wreckage
Photograph 2 – Left Side View of Main Wreckage
Photograph 3 – Right Side View of Main WreckageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 28, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | POH Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.