# NTSB CEN10CA300: Cessna 172K, N78612, Wellington, KS, May 31, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 31, 2010, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Wellington, KS - Coordinates: 37.269496, -97.389701 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2695&lon=-97.3897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76225 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76225/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76225 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA300 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly secure the airplane while manually starting the engine with the propeller. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Parking/securing: tie-down/mooring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot tried to start his single-engine airplane but realized that the battery was dead and his attempt to charge the battery was unsuccessful. He then prepared to hand-prop the engine by setting the hand brake, priming the engine and turning the ignition on to both magnetos. The throttle was set to the idle position. The pilot moved the propeller and the engine started immediately; however, the hand brake could not hold the thrust of the engine and it started to accelerate. The pilot was unable to catch the airplane as it crossed the taxiways and interposed grass before it finally stopped when it collided with terrain prior to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine and engine mounts were displaced to the right and that the lower part of the nose landing gear was sheered away. ## Factual narrative The private pilot tried to start his single-engine airplane but realized that the battery was dead and his attempt to charge the battery was unsuccessful. So, he prepared to hand-prop the engine by setting the hand break, priming the engine and turning the ignition on to both magnetos. The throttle was set to the idle position. The pilot moved the propeller and the engine started immediately; however, the hand break could not hold the thrust of the engine and it started to accelerate. The pilot was unable to catch the airplane as it crossed the taxiways and interposed grass before it finally stopped when it collided with terrain prior to the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine and engine mounts were displaced to the right, and the lower part of the nose landing gear was sheered away. ## Aircraft - Registration: N78612 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172K - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257686 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lind Edward - Registered owner: Lind Edward - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EGT, Wellington, KS - Destination: EGT, Wellington, KS - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: EGT, Wellington AIrport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,000 total, 100 in this make and model ## 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 20100531037749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100531037749A), May 31, 2010: Cessna 172K, Wellington, KS, Substantial damage. On may 31st, 2010, at approximately 1320 local time, a private pilot was involved in an aircraft accident while attempting to hand-prop an aircraft with the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76225. 478 KB in all. - Written Statement-Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement-Pilot-Redacted.PDF - FAA Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 191 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Written%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.