# Accident 20150503010459A: Cessna 182T, St. Marys, PA, May 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2015, 12:26 local time
- Place: St. Marys, PA
- Airport: St Marys Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.4114° N, 78.5072° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4114&lon=-78.5072&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53310, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53310) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182T (registry code 2072703, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182T
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540-AB1A5
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150503010459A

## Narrative

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

THE ALLEGHENY FSDO WAS NOTIFIED THAT AN AIRCRAFT HAD STRUCK THE TERMINAL BUILDING AT THE ST. MARYS, PA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT ON MAY 3, 2005, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:26 EDT. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE HAD FAILED TO START USING NORMAL PROCEDURES. WHEN THE ENGINE HAD FAILED TO START VIA ENGINE STARTER CRANKING, THE PILOT ELECTED TO GET OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND CLEAR THE CYLINDERS OF FUEL BY MANUALLY ROTATING THE PROPELLER. AS THE PILOT ROTATED THE PROPELLER BY HAND, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY STARTED AND THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED ACROSS THE RAMP STRIKING THE TERMINAL BUILDING BEFORE THE PILOT COULD REENTER THE AIRCRAFT.

I ARRIVED AT THE ST. MARY?S AIRPORT ON MAY 4, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:45.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN MOVED AWAY FROM THE TERMINAL BUILDING FOR SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION THE PREVIOUS DAY, TO A LOCATION AT MID-RAMP.  AS A RESULT OF IMPACT WITH THE TERMINAL BUILDING AND SUPPORTING STEEL UPRIGHTS, THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE HAD CRACKED AND THE PROPELLER HAD BECOME DETACHED. THE WINGS HAD STRUCK TWO STEEL UPRIGHTS (FIRST WITH THE RIGHT WING AND THEN THE LEFT WING) CAUSING THE LEFT WING LIFT STRUT TO BECOME DETACHED AT THE LOWER ATTACH POINT AND RESULTING IN DEEP LEADING EDGE DENTS AND SKIN PERFORATION AND TEARING BACK TO THE MAIN SPAR ON BOTH WINGS, INCLUDING LEFT WING SPAR DISTORTION. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT WRINKLING AND DISTORTION OF THE LH SIDE FUSELAGE SKIN. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ACCOMPANYING AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, WE REMOVED THE UPPER LEFT AND RIGHT ENGINE COWLING TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ENGINE MAGNETOS.  WE FOUND THAT THE MAGNETOS WERE UNCOMPROMISED AND INTACT.  THE IGNITION WIRING AND MAGNETO PRIMARY LEADS WERE APPROPRIATELY CONNECTED AND UNCOMPROMISED FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE TERMINAL BUILDING.  I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE FIRST RESPONDERS TO THE SCENE TO LEARN OF THE POSITION OF THE MAGNETO SWITCH AND ENGINE CONTROLS.  I WAS ADVISED BY THE AIRPORT MANAGER THAT HE WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER THE AIRCRAFT, BUT WAS THE PERSON CALLED TO SECURE THE AIRCRAFT.  FIRST RESPONDERS HAD REMOVED THE UNINJURED FEMALE PASSENGER FROM THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT FULL POWER DESPITE THE CRANKSHAFT BEING SHEARED AT THE PROPELLER FLANGE.  THE AIRPORT MANAGER STATED THAT THE MAGNETO SWITCH WAS IN THE ?L? (LEFT) POSITION, AND THAT THE ENGINE THROTTLE WAS FULL FORWARD (FULL THROTTLE) AND THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS AT FULL RICH. WITH THE ENGINE CONTROLS IN THIS POSITION, THE MAGNETO WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE CURRENT TO THE ENGINE SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITE ANY FUEL REMAINING IN THE CYLINDERS.

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS VIA CELL PHONE VOICE MAIL, I ASKED THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO PROVIDE ME WITH AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE LOG BOOKS TO VERIFY ANNUAL INSPECTION DATES.  NO RETURN PHONE CALL WAS RECEIVED FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PILOT.  NO LOG BOOK ENTRIES WERE RECEIVED FROM HIM.-END WDG

## 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 GAA15CA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA057), May 3, 2015: Cessna 182T (N53310), St Marys, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to rotate the propeller by hand without properly securing the airplane.

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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