- Date
- October 2, 2013, 15:18 local (19:18 UTC)
- Place
- Benton Harbor, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N8084WPiper PA 28-180
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 3, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20131002019779A
- Case key
- 88390
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 failure to maintain aircraft control during engine start.
Findings · 1
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
During the engine start, the pilot had applied full throttle. After the engine start, the pilot lost control of the airplane, and the airplane impacted a hangar at the airport. A ground worker sustained minor injuries during the collision. The pilot reported that the accident was due to pilot error, and the airplane had no mechanical issues.
Factual narrative
During the engine start, the pilot had applied full throttle. After the engine start, the pilot lost control of the airplane, and the airplane impacted a hangar at the airport. A ground worker sustained minor injuries during the collision. The pilot reported that the accident was due to pilot error, and the airplane had no mechanical issues.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8084W
- Reported as
- Piper PA 28-180 (180)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-2174
- Built
- 1965
- Engine
- Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- BEH · Benton Harbor, MI
- Destination
- BEH · Benton Harbor, MI
- Airport
- BEH · Southwest Michigan Regional
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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 11, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 350 total · 100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 270 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.