# NTSB ATL94LA178: Piper PA-28-235B, N622MK, Kill Devil Hill, NC, September 23, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 23, 1994, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Kill Devil Hill, NC
- Coordinates: 36.010917, -75.659996 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0109&lon=-75.6600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3451
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3451/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA178

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE PASSENGER DID NOT EXIT THE AIRPLANE WHILE THE PROPELLER WAS STILL TURNING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - propeller/jet blast encounter - inadvertent, passenger

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE PASSENGER DEVELOPED A PHYSICAL URGENCY, AND COULD NOT WAIT UNTIL THE PROPELLER HAD STOPPED. SHE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT VIA THE RIGHT DOOR, AND MOVED FORWARD OVER THE WING. AS SHE STEPPED OFF OF THE WING, HER LEFT HAND WAS STUCK BY THE PROPELLER.

## Factual narrative

On September 23, 1994, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a passenger was struck by the propeller of a Piper PA-28-235B, N622MK, when she exited the airplane, before the engine was shut down, at First Flight Airport in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was not damaged. The private pilot was not injured, but the passenger received serious injuries. The flight departed Williamsburg, Virginia, at 1330 hours.

The pilot verbally stated that the passenger had a physical urgency, and she could not wait until the engine was shut down. She exited the cockpit via the right door and proceeded forward, over the right wing of the airplane. As she jumped from the wing, her left hand was struck by the propeller, severing three fingers.

A report of the accident, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, was not provided by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N622MK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-235B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-10899
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Roof, Robb E.
- Registered owner: Penn Aero Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1994, 99 hours before
- Departed: JGG, WILLIAMSBURG, VA
- Destination: FFA, NC
- Airport: FFA, First Flight, runway 2, 3,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 380 total, 350 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FFA

## 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 19940923032969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940923032969A), Sep 23, 1994: Piper PA28235, Kill Devil Hill, NC. Parked on ramp. Passenger had physical emergency got out and jumped from wing. Idling prop severed three fingers.

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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