Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4 accident near Abilene, TX
On August 31, 2014, a Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Abilene, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 31, 2014
- Place
- Abilene, TX
- Aircraft
- Schafer Rick W FOXTROT 4 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.401°N, 99.682°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140831X20708
Official records · CEN14FA468
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control - Partial Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data of Radar Contacts: Document (CSV), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control - Plot of Radar Contacts: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 31, 2014, about 1834 central daylight time, a Schafer Foxtrot 4, experimental, amateur-built, single-engine airplane, N729AR, was destroyed after impacting terrain during initial climb near Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), Abilene, Texas. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, a second passenger was seriously injured, and a 2-year old child sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 91 personal flight. At the time of the accident the airplane was departing ABI for a local flight. The airplane had departed ABI runway 17R to the south and was about 400 feet above ground level (agl) when the pilot declared an emergency and reported to the tower controller that he needed to return. Witnesses saw the southbound airplane in a steep left bank and several witnesses heard the sounds of impact. The airplane was generally northbound when it impacted mesquite trees and terrain about one mile south of the airport. The impact resulted in the complete separation from the fuselage of the forward fuselage, engine and propeller. The wing was also completely separated from the fuselage and both wing fuel tanks were compromised. All three adult occupants were ejected or partially ejected. The child in the rear seat remained restrained by a 4-point safety harness and was removed from the wreckage by emergency responders who arrived quickly. There was a fuel spill at the scene,
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to attempt a steep turn to return to the airport after reporting an emergency. The reason for the emergency could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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Browse: Texas
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
