Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Tonopah, Nevada, May 24, 2000
On May 24, 2000 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3700T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tonopah, Nevada (Tonopah Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain the proper rotation airspeed during initial takeoff and his improper aborted takeoff procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2000 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tonopah, Nevada · Tonopah Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3700T · registry record · serial 28R-30004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,120 hours in all; 431 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 1,047 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,828 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 1999; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-BIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TPH NV at 4:29 pm
- Destination: 028 Willits CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 7,057 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 118°F (48°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from TPH, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.