# NTSB CHI01LA268: Piper PA-28-181, N8253A, Gladwin, MI, July 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2001, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Gladwin, MI - Coordinates: 43.979568, -84.489196 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9796&lon=-84.4892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52979/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA268 ## Probable cause The pilot's poor decision to exit the airplane onto the wing while the propeller was running. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, reported they flew into the airport to attend a pancake breakfast. He reported that after landing a flagman directed them to a parking spot where they came to a complete stop. He reported that he knew they were going to need fuel prior to departing so he opened the door and exited the airplane onto the wing to look for a fuel truck. The pilot reported the propeller was still turning when he exited the airplane. He reported, "While standing on the wing of the parked aircraft, I slipped and went forward and threw up my left arm to protect instinctively myself and the result is that I ended up on the ground with a broken left arm and a cut on my left arm." The pilot rated passenger in the left seat reported, "[The pilot] wanted to get fuel. I suggested we shut the engine down and get fuel after breakfast. [The pilot] pulled the throttle back to a low idle, said leave it running I'll catch that guy (the person that parked us). [The pilot] got out of the plane stepped to the front of the wing apparently slipped. I saw him going off the front of the wing. I immediately pulled the mixture control off, shutting down the engine. [The pilot] was apparently struck by the propeller causing injury to his left arm." ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2001, at 0900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8253A, was involved in an accident when the propeller contacted the pilot at the Gladwin Zettel Memorial Airport (GLD), Gladwin, Michigan. The pilot received serious injuries. The pilot rated passenger in the left seat and two other passengers were not injured. The airplane was not damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Traverse City, Michigan, at 0800 edt. The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, reported they flew to GLD to attend a pancake breakfast. He reported that after landing a flagman directed them to a parking spot where they came to a complete stop. He reported that he knew they were going to need fuel prior to departing so he opened the door and exited the airplane onto the wing to look for a fuel truck. The pilot reported the propeller was still turning when he exited the airplane. He reported, "While standing on the wing of the parked aircraft, I slipped and went forward and threw up my left arm to protect instinctively myself and the result is that I ended up on the ground with a broken left arm and a cut on my left arm." The pilot rated passenger in the left seat reported, "[The pilot] wanted to get fuel. I suggested we shut the engine down and get fuel after breakfast. [The pilot] pulled the throttle back to a low idle, said leave it running I'll catch that guy (the person that parked us). [The pilot] got out of the plane stepped to the front of the wing apparently slipped. I saw him going off the front of the wing. I immediately pulled the mixture control off, shutting down the engine. [The pilot] was apparently struck by the propeller causing injury to his left arm." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8253A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8253A), registered now, S/N 28-8190013, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29-8190013 - Airframe hours: 3291 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Witkop - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2001, 18 hours before - Departed: TVC, Traverse City, MI - Destination: GDW, Gladwin, MI - Airport: GDW, Gladwin Settel Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 23, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 499 total, 259 in this make and model, 364 as pilot in command - Other flight crew; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 29, 1998; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg ## 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 20010714019119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010714019119A), Jul 14, 2001: Piper PA28181, Gladwin, MI, No damage. (-23) Mr witkop was acting as PIC while riding in the right front seat. They had landed at the Gladwin Airport with the intention of attending a pancake… 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.