CHI87DEE04

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Plainfield, IL · February 2, 1987

Accident · FatalFinal report

Date: February 2, 1987, 13:20 local (19:20 UTC)
Place: Plainfield, IL
Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
Damage: No damage
Phase of flight: Standing
Aircraft: N2968UCessna 172
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report October 7, 1988
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19870202001479A
Case key: 13553

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Propeller/rotor contact to personStanding - engine(s) operating

Passenger briefing - poorPilot in commandCause

Judgment - poorPilot in commandFactor

Supervision - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Analysis

While taxiing for takeoff, the aircraft became stuck in a snowbank. The pilot and passenger got out of the aircraft to free it. The passenger walked into the propeller of the running engine and received fatal injuries.

Aircraft

Registration: N2968U
Reported as: Cessna 172
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 17250568
Engine: Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: No damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Thomas Dale, Jr.
Registered owner: Thomas Dale, Sr.
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Departed: 1C5
Airport: IL · Plainfield, runway 18, 3,370 × 50 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 41
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 200 total · 125 in this make and model · 190 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 180° at 9 knots
Visibility: 7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F
Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Observed at: DPA, 15 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.

Accident 19870202001479ACessna 172D · Plainfield, ILThe aircraft became stuck in the snow during taxi. The passenger was struck by the propeller when he exited.Feb 2, 1987 · N2968U · 1 fatal