# NTSB CEN15CA410: Piper PA-17, N4653H, Delphi, IN, September 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 9, 2015, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Delphi, IN - Coordinates: 40.543056, -86.681388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5431&lon=-86.6814&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 March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 91969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA410 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91969/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91969 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA410 ## Probable cause The pilot's attempt to start the engine by himself without properly securing the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Engine starting: cranking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058010): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not installed/available; cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058010/cases.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058010/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: [Piper PA-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-17, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had recently purchased the airplane. It was not equipped with a starter nor did it have a parking brake. Up until this time, the pilot had used someone else to hand prop the engine while he sat at the controls. This was the pilot's first attempt to start the engine by himself. The airplane was not tied down nor chocked. The engine started and the airplane taxied across the tarmac and collided with an airport-owned hangar. There was an intention for flight. The pilot admitted his "lack of experience with this aircraft and [his] overly-high confidence level [was the cause of the] accident." ## Factual narrative According to the pilot's written statement, he had recently purchased the airplane. The airplane was not equipped with a starter nor did it have a parking brake. Up until this time, the pilot had used someone else to hand prop the engine while he sat at the controls. This was the pilot's first attempt to start the engine by himself. The airplane was not tied down nor chocked. The engine started on the second attempt. The pilot said he had either primed the engine too much or had the throttle set too high. When the engine started, it accelerated to high RPM and the airplane taxied across the tarmac and collided with an airport-owned hangar. There was an intention for flight. The pilot admitted his "lack of experience with this aircraft and [his] overly-high confidence level [was the cause of the] accident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4653H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4653H-2026-08-01), registration cancelled 2026-08-01, S/N 17-63 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-17 - Registry model: [Piper PA-17](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-17) (registry code 7101702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17-63 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 1600 - Engines: Lycoming O-145 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric D. Stull - Registered owner: Eric D. Stull - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2015, 7 hours before - Departed: I19, Delphi, IN - Destination: I19, Delphi, IN - Airport: 1I9, Delphi Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 50 total, 7 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KMCX, 11 nm away ## 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 20150909014579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150909014579A), Sep 9, 2015: Piper PA-17, Delphi, IN, Substantial damage. On September 9, 2015, at approximately 1800 local time, a Piper PA-17 vagabond, N4653H, struck a building at Delphi Municipal Airport (1I9). There were no… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91969. 232 KB in all. - Pilot's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437542&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 2, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437543&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.