# Accident 20191012019629A: Cessna 172S, Key West, FL, October 12, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 12, 2019, 21:00 local time
- Place: Key West, FL
- Airport: Key West International Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 24.5561° N, 81.7600° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5561&lon=-81.7600&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5522S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5522S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 164 total, 152 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA20CA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA025) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191012019629A

## Narrative

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

ON SATURDAY OCT 12, 2019 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FAA ROC IN REFERENCE TO PROP STRIKE AT EYW AIRPORT INVOLVING N5522S. HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT FROM KEY WEST TO PAGE FIELD PART 91 OPERATIONS. DURING TAXI OUT, PIC HUSBAND NOTICE FRONT CHALKS WERE INSTALLED ON AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT MOVE. WIFE EXITED AIRCRAFT AND ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE CHALKS FROM THE NOSE LANDING GEAR, SHE WAS STRUCK BY MOVING PROPELLER.

EYW FIRE RESCUE RESPONDED TO WEST RAMP SIGNATURE FLIGHT PARKING AREA SPOT (A5) AND RESPONDED TO WIFE'S INJURIES. WIFE SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING INJURIES, AMPUTATED RIGHT HAND, RIGHT FOOT MULTIPLE FRACTURES, AND RIGHT TOE WAS AMPUTATED. MONROE COUNTY FIRE RESCUED TRANSPORTED PATIENT TO LOWER KEYS MEDICAL CENTER AND SHE WAS AIRLIFTED TO RYDER TRAUMA CENTER IN MIAMI.

ON OCTOBER 13, 2019 FAA INSPECTOR INTERVIEWED PIC HUSBAND AT RYDER TRAUMA CENTER. HUSBAND STATED THEY LEFT PAGE FIELD AROUND 4 PM OCTOBER 12, 2019 AND FILED IFR DIRECT TO EYW. HUSBAND AND WIFE ATE DINNER AT BAGATELLE RESTAURANT,  KEY WEST, FLORIDA. THEY FINISHED DINNER AROUND 8 PM. NO ALCOHOL WAS CONSUMED DURING DINNER. THEY PROCEEDED TO HEAD TO THE AIRPORT, AND A PASSING STORM DELAYED THEIR DEPARTURE. PIC HUSBAND FILED IFR DIRECT TO PAGE FIELD.  FBO CONTACTED HUSBAND AND ADVISED HIM OF THE FEES INCURRED AFTER 9:OO PM. THE FAA TOWER HAD CLOSED AT 9:00 PM. HUSBAND ALSO STATED RAMP  AREA HAS VERY LIMITED LIGHTING. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WIFE WAS FLYING AT NIGHT AND SHE WAS ANXIOUS TO DEPART BEFORE NIGHT FALL.  SHE HAS FLOWN WITH HUSBAND 5 OR 6 TIMES BEFORE DURING DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS. PROP STRIKE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 9:05. PICTURES OF THE CHALK SHOW THEY ARE BLACK IN COLOR WITH A REFLECTIVE STRIPE. PIC HUSBAND STATED THEIR WAS MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN HIM AND WIFE, BEFORE HE NOTICED SHE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO PULL THE CHALKS. FAA COUNSELED PIC WALTER GRAY TO SHUT DOWN ENGINES WHEN A PASSENGER DEPARTS THE  AIRCRAFT, RISKS ARE TO HIGH WITH ENGINES RUNNING AND A PASSENGER  IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.

FAA INSPECTOR CONFIRMED WITH MANAGER AT ^BAGATELLE^ RESTAURANT NO ALCOHOL WAS CONSUMED.  RECEIPT SHOWED NO PURCHASE OF ALCOHOL.

AIRCRAFT WAS RENTED FROM PARAGON FLIGHT TRAINING AT PAGE FIELD FORT, MYERS, FLORIDA.  AIRCRAFT WAS EVALUATED BY A&P AND DETERMINATION WAS MADE TO PULL ENGINE OFF THE AIRCRAFT AND SEND TO REPAIR SHOP FOR SUDDEN STOPPAGE INSPECTION.

## 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 GAA20CA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA025), Oct 13, 2019: Cessna 172 (N5522S), Key West, FL, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s and the passenger's improper decision to have the passenger attempt to move a wheel chock while the propeller was turning, which resulted in a serious injury.

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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