# NTSB BFO94LA041: Cessna 150, N7843E, Lima, OH, February 18, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 18, 1994, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Lima, OH
- Coordinates: 40.829025, -83.970169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8290&lon=-83.9702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8891
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8891/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA041

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER TO MAINTAIN CLERANCE 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
  - clearance - not maintained, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT TAXIED HIS AIRPLANE TO HIS HANGAR AND CAME TO A FULL STOP WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING.  THE PASSENGER IN THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE AIRPLANE TO MOVE A VEHICLE OUT OF THE HANGAR.  THE PASSENGER FORGOT THE KEYS TO THE VEHICLE AND WENT BACK TO THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE PILOT HANDED HER THE KEYS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER THEN DUCKED UNDER THE RIGHT WING STRUT AND CONTINUED FORWARD INTO THE PROPELLER.

## Factual narrative

On Friday, February 18, 1994, at 1450 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150, N7843E, owned, operated, and piloted by Darrell L. Gallant of Lima, Ohio, was involved in an accident while standing outside its hangar with the engine running.  A passenger departed the airplane and walked into the airplane's engine propeller.  The passenger was fatally injured.  The pilot was not injured.  The airplane was not damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the Allen County Sheriff's Supplemental Offense Report and a Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that he and his wife had just returned from a local personal flight.  The pilot stated that he taxied the airplane to the airplane's hangar and came to a stop.  He stated that his wife got out of the airplane to move their truck which was in the hangar. He stated that his wife departed the airplane and returned to the right side door of the airplane to get the key to the truck.  The pilot stated that he handed his wife the truck keys and then she ducked under the right wing strut and continued forward into the propeller.

A sergeant from the Allen County Sheriff's Department wrote on the Supplemental Offense Report, "Upon looking at the location where the aircraft was parked, there [were] large puddles running along the West portion of the roadway.  It appears the victim may have walked into the propeller because she was not wanting to step into the puddles."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7843E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7843E-2025-09-09), registration cancelled 2025-09-09, S/N 17643, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17643
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gallant, Darrell L.
- Registered owner: Gallant, Darrell L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: AOH, Lima Allen County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 272 total, 114 in this make and model, 272 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19940218006249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940218006249A), Feb 18, 1994: Cessna 150, Lima, OH, 1 fatal. Passenger got out to move truck in hanger. Engine idling. Ducked under strut and was struck by idling propeller.

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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