# Accident 20150909014579A: Piper PA-17, Delphi, IN, September 9, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 2015, 18:00 local time
- Place: Delphi, IN
- Airport: Delphi Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5431° N, 86.6814° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5431&lon=-86.6814&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4653H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4653H-2026-08-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-17 (registry code 7101702, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-17
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 7 total, 2 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15CA410](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA410) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150909014579A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 LOCAL TIME, A PIPER PA-17 VAGABOND, N4653H, STRUCK A BUILDING AT DELPHI MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (1I9). THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED OR REQUIRED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE PILOT WAS HAND PROPPING HIS AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NEITHER CHOCKED NOR TIED DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PARKING BRAKE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO HOLD THE AIRCRAFT BY THE RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE WITH ONE HAND AND TURN THE PROPELLER FROM BEHIND WITH HIS OTHER HAND. WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED THE PILOT COULD NOT HOLD THE AIRCRAFT, AND IT RAN  AWAY FROM HIM. IT HIT AN ADJACENT BUILDING 40 FEET AWAY. THE PILOT RAN AFTER THE AIRCRAFT AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AFTER IT HIT THE BUILDING . THIS REPORT MAY BE AMENDED AT A FUTURE DATE.

## 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 CEN15CA410](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA410), Sep 9, 2015: Piper PA-17 (N4653H), Delphi, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's attempt to start the engine by himself 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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