- Date
- January 17, 2013, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Phillipsburg, OH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N5269PPiper PA-24-250
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 18, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20130117000239A
- Case key
- 86067
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper operation of the airplane controls during engine start, which resulted in a collision with a hangar.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot started the airplane without the hand-brake set, and the airplane began to move forward. The pilot stated that he pushed the throttle "in" and at the same time reached for the hand-brake in an attempt to stop the airplane. The throttle input increased engine power, and the airplane rolled forward until it collided with a hanger. The airplane’s wings were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane found the throttle in the full forward (full power) position. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported.
Factual narrative
The pilot started the airplane without the parking park set. When the airplane's engine was started the airplane began to move forward. The pilot stated that he pushed the throttle "in" and at the same time reached for the hand-brake in an attempt to stop the airplane. The throttle input increased engine power and the airplane rolled forward until it collided with a hanger. The airplane’s wings were substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane found the throttle in the full forward (full power) position. No preimpact anomalies were detected with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5269P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-250
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-307
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540 SERIES, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mathias James G
- Registered owner
- Mathias James G
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- K3I7 · Phillipsburg, OH
- Destination
- K3I7 · Phillipsburg, OH
- Airport
- K3I7 · Phillipsburg Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 12, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 380 total · 10 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.19 inHg
- Observed at
- KDAY, 8 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 633 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.