# NTSB BFO89LA018: Cessna 172I, N8359L, Fort Washington, MD, February 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1989, 20:35 local (Feb 26, 1989, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Fort Washington, MD
- Coordinates: 38.729389, -77.00064 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7294&lon=-77.0006&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 September 28, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11492
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11492/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA018

## Probable cause

THE PASSENGER FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH THE PILOT FAILURE TO SUPERVISE THE BOARDING OF THE PASSENGER AND THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT.

## 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
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, passenger (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS STOPPED ON THE RAMP WITH THE PLT ABOARD. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE PAX CROSSED IN FRONT OF THE ACFT AND WALKED TOWARD THE RIGHT DOOR TO BOARD THE ACFT. WHEN SHE PASSED THE PROP SHE WAS STRUCK BY IT. THE EXTENT OF HER INJURIES WERE NOT REALIZED UNTIL SHE BOARDED SINCE ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE PAX SAID SHE WAS JUST GRAZED BY THE PROP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8359L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8359L), registered now, S/N 17256559 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172I
- Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256559
- Airframe hours: 4792
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stanley B. Fetter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1988
- Airport: PGC, Potomac Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 425 total, 326 in this make and model, 344 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F

## 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 19890225015559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890225015559A), Feb 25, 1989: Cessna 172I, Friendly, MD. Passenger walked into a idling prop at night. Was not wearing glasses and walked in front of aircraft.

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.

---
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.