# Accident 20241212018729A: Wolstenholme Dennis PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, Tullahoma, TN, December 12, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 12, 2024, 10:30 local time
- Place: Tullahoma, TN
- Airport: Tullahoma Regional Airport/Wm Norther
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3802° N, 86.2395° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3802&lon=-86.2395&mi=10
- Aircraft: N161DW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N161DW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wolstenholme Dennis PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER (registry code 056222U, https://openairdocs.org/model/wolstenholme-dennis-pietenpol-air-camper) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WOLSTENHOLME DENNIS PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 356 total, 38 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA077) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241212018729A

## Narrative

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

THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM THE PILOT’S WRITTEN STATEMENT.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS PARKED AND FUELED AT THE KTHA SELF-SERVE FUEL STATION, WHERE ELECTRIC START PROCEDURE WAS ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE TIMES.

THE AREA WAS CLEAR AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CHOCKED AND THE ENGINE HAND PROPPED.

UPON ENGINE START, THE RPM INCREASED SUFFICIENTLY TO JUMP THE CHOCKS.

AIRCRAFT ROLLED APPROX. 60 FT STRUCK A HANGAR DOOR, THE PROPELLOR STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE STOPPED

THERE WAS NO FUEL SPILLED OR FIRE.

## 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 ERA25LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA077), Dec 12, 2024: Wolstenholme Dennis Pietenpol AIR Camper (N161DW), Tullahoma, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to adequately secure the airplane before hand-propping the engine. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of training in hand-propping procedures.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.