# Accident 19970421015829A: Cessna 421C, Pierre, SD, April 21, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 1997, 12:00 local time
- Place: Pierre, SD
- Airport: Pierre Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Idling Engines
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.3706° N, 100.3200° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3706&lon=-100.3200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N283PT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 421C
- Reported engine: CONT GTSIO520*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 30,000 total, 110 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA109) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970421015829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)WHILE DISCHARGING A PASSENGER ON A WET RAMP WITH BRAKES SET AND BOTH ENGINES RUNNING, THE PILOT WENT AFT TO SHUT THE MAIN CABIN DOOR. AS THE PILOT EGRESSED THE COCKPIT, HIS LEFT FOOT STRUCK THE NUMBER ONE THROTTLE ADVANCING IT TO TAKEOFF POWER WHICH CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO IMPACT A PARKED VEHICLE AND CHAIN LINK FENCE ON THE RAMP.                                        (-23) AFTER THE SINGLE PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT GOT OUT OF HIS SEAT TO CLOSE THE CABIN DOOR.  BOTH ENGINES WERE STILL RUNNING. THE PILOT'S SHOE BUMPED THE LEFT THROTTLE LEVER AS HE EXITED THE PILOT SEAT, PUSHING THE LEFT THROTTLE TO FUL POWER.  THE SUDDEN LURCH THREW THE PILOT TO THE FLOOR.  THE AIRCRAFT, MOVING UNDER POWER, WENT ALONG A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND INTO A PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED JEEP CHEROKEE WHERE IT CAME TO REST.  AT THIS TIME, THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINES.  ON THE SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN LOCKED AS EVIDENT BY THE SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA109), Apr 21, 1997: Cessna 421C (N283PT), Pierre, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadvertent activation of the number one throttle/power control. Factors were: the pilot left the cockpit unattended with the engines running and a wet ramp.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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