# NTSB BFO93LA186: Piper PA-24-260, N8992P, Niagara Falls, NY, September 26, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1993, 16:58 local (20:58 UTC) - Place: Niagara Falls, NY - Coordinates: 43.140365, -79.029556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1404&lon=-79.0296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8828/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA186 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW STARTING PROCEDURES AND HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY NOT REMOVING THE WHEEL CHOCKS AND THE PASSENGER NOT MAINTAINING CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER. ## 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 - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, other person (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, AND RETURNED TO THE OFFICE TO PAY HIS TIE-DOWN FEES FOR THE THREE DAYS. ON HIS RETURN, HE STATED THAT HE STARTED THE ENGINE, CONTACTED GROUND CONTROL FOR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO TAXI AS THE NOSEWHEEL CHOCK WAS STILL IN PLACE. HIS WIFE, A NON-PILOT, VOLUNTEERED TO REMOVE THE CHOCK. HE STATED THAT SHE EXITED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT AND WALKED IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT WING WHERE SHE TRIED TO REMOVE THE CHOCK FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NOSE GEAR AFT OF THE PROPELLER. SHE WAS STRUCK BY THE PROPELLER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HEARD AND FELT A SLIGHT THUD IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPELLER, SO HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND EXITED THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On Sunday, September 26, 1993, at 1658 eastern daylight time, N8992P, a Piper PA-24-260, operated by L & L Aviation Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and piloted by Raymond Grvybowski of Clarksburg, Maryland, struck his passenger with the propeller at Niagara Falls International Airport, Niagara Falls, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured; however, the passenger was fatally injured. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91 and the intended destination was Westminster, Maryland. According to the pilot, he had completed his preflight inspection, and returned to the office to pay his tie-down fees for the three days. On his return, he stated that he started the engine, and contacted ground control for clearance to taxi. He stated that the aircraft would not move forward and his wife, a non-pilot, volunteered to remove the nosewheel chock. The wife exited the airplane to the right, walked around the right wing and tried to remove the chocks from the right side of the nose gear aft of the propeller. She was struck by the propeller. The pilot stated that he heard and felt a slight thud in the vicinity of the propeller, so he shut the engine down and exited the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8992P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8992P), registered now, S/N 24-4453, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4453 - Airframe hours: 6529 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: L & L Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: L & L Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 1992, 175 hours before - Destination: W54, WESTMINSTER, MD - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IAG, Niagara Falls Intl, runway 24, 3,973 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,357 total, 293 in this make and model, 1,294 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19930926036429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930926036429A), Sep 26, 1993: Piper PA24260, Niagara Falls, NY, 1 fatal. Pilots wife got out to remove nose wheel chock with engine running. Was struck by propeller. Failed to stop engine. 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.