# NTSB CEN17LA234: Aeronca 65 CA, N33778, Mount Vernon, OH, June 17, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 2017, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Mount Vernon, OH - Coordinates: 40.365276, -82.495277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3653&lon=-82.4953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95393/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95393 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA234 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper starting procedure before hand propping the engine, and his subsequent attempt to stop the moving airplane, which resulted in him being struck by the propeller. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine starting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058000/cases.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058000/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aeronca 65-CA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0190922), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot prepared to hand-prop the airplane, which was not equipped with an electrical starter, by tying the tail down with a nylon rope. The pilot then hand-propped the engine, which started at a high power setting. The airplane moved forward, breaking the rope, and continued to taxi in circles. The pilot and another individual tried to stop the airplane; however, the propeller struck the pilot, resulting in fatal injuries. The airplane eventually came to stop farther down the runway. Although the pilot attempted to secure the airplane by tying down the tail, the throttle was set at a high engine power setting, allowing the airplane's movement. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2017, about 1330 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 65-CA airplane, N33778, experienced a propeller blade strike during an attempted hand prop of the engine at the Wynkoop Airport (6G4), Mount Vernon, Ohio. The pilot, and intended sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight. Information collected by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and an Ohio State Patrol officer, indicate the pilot attempted to start the engine by hand-propping the airplane. According to a person located at 6G4, the pilot had flown in arrived at 6G4 earlier and was to depart. The person added that the pilot tied the tail of the airplane off with a nylon rope that he had brought with him. The airplane wheels were not chocked and the pilot was having difficulties starting the engine. The witness was in the hangar when he heard the airplane start at a high rpm, so he quickly stepped outside. The witness reported the airplane had broken the rope and was taxiing around in circles while the pilot attempted to stop the airplane. The witness joined the pilot in trying to stop the airplane; however, the propeller struck the pilot, knocking him down. The airplane eventually came to stop further down the runway. The vintage airplane was not equipped with an electrical system or an electric starter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33778](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33778-2024-08-17), registration cancelled 2024-08-17, S/N C13421, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 65 CA (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeronca 65-CA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-65-ca) (registry code 0190922) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C13421 - Year built: 1941 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 16, 2016 - Departed: 6G4, Mount Vernon, OH - Airport: 6G4, Wynkoop Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2013; seat: none; restraint: none; toxicology performed; flight hours: 684 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: 4I3, 3 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 20170617011199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170617011199A), Jun 17, 2017: Aeronca 65-CA, Mt Vernon, OH, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Larry l. hoover had flown his plane to wynkoop airport to visit with friends. He was trying to start the plane he had piloted to the wynkoop airport. According… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95393. 780 KB in all. - Police Report - excerpt (item 1, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456506&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report%20-%20excerpt-Master.PDF - Pilot Log - excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456508&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Log%20-%20excerpt-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456510&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-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.