# NTSB ATL88IA113: Cessna 172B, N7609X, Elizabethton, TN, March 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 14, 1988, 05:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place: Elizabethton, TN
- Coordinates: 36.330924, -82.229972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3309&lon=-82.2300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7822
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88IA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7822/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA113

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - starting engine(s)
  - throttle/power control - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - tie down - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DUE TO A LOW CHARGE IN THE BATTERY, THE PLT ELECTED TO START THE ENG BY HAND PROPPING, SO HE COULD PROGRAM THE LORAN FOR A LATER FLT. HE BEGAN HAND PROPPING WITH THE TAIL & LEFT WING TIED DOWN. AFTER THE ENG STARTED, THE TIEDOWN FOR THE TAIL PULLED LOOSE & THE ACFT MOVED AROUND THE LEFT WING TIEDOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT A NEARBY FLOATPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7609X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7609X-2023-10-07), registration cancelled 2023-10-07, S/N 17248109 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172B
- Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17248109
- Airframe hours: 2670
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Arnold O. Hopland
- Registered owner: Arnold Hopland
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1987
- Destination: HLX, GALAX, VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: 0A9, Elizabethton Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: expired; flight hours: 900 total, 260 in this make and model, 780 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TRI, 10 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880314044899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880314044899A), Mar 14, 1988: Cessna 172B, Elizabethton, TN, Substantial damage. Throttle set too high. Engine started by hand prop. Tail tiedown loosened. Aircraft rotated into parked aircraft.

## Other investigations on N7609X (2)

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 WPR22LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA246), Jul 7, 2022: Cessna 172B (N7609X), Silver Springs, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB MIA73FLA38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73FLA38), May 21, 1973: Cessna 172 (N7609X), Defuniak Spng, FL, substantial damage

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.

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