N720GP

On November 25, 2004, at 0730 eastern standard time, a Piper PA 28-181, N720GP, was substantially damaged during a runway overrun and collision with a fence following an aborted takeoff from York Airport (THV), York, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that was destined for Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU), Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot explained that the purpose of the flight was to fly his family to Florida for the Thanksgiving Holiday. In addition, their bags were shipped ahead, and the airplane was only partially filled with fuel, to remain within weight and balance limitations.

The pilot received a weather briefing by telephone prior to departure. Once in the airplane, he conferred with air traffic control by radio about "level 3 and level 4 rain activity" in the York area, and decided to delay his departure for 30 minutes.

While he waited, the pilot was contacted by the controller and advised that there was a "hole" to the west, and was offered a clearance. The pilot accepted the clearance and taxied to runway 17.

During taxi, and at the beginning of the takeoff roll, a light rain fell. As the takeoff roll continued, the wind increased, the rain fell harder, and the pilot struggled to maintain directional control. At 55 knots, about the midpoint of the 5,100-foot runway, the takeoff was aborted but the airplane overran the runway and struck a fence beyond the departure end.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane, and that the airplane hydroplaned on the large amounts of standing water on the runway. When asked if the water was visible, he said that "small waves" were visible on the surface due to the wind.

At 0739, the weather reported at York Airport included wind from 300 degrees at 17 knots gusting to 27 knots. The ceiling was overcast at 6,000 and the visibility was 2 1/2 miles in heavy rain and mist.