# NTSB DFW07CA069: Cessna 172, N124SJ, Lancaster, TX, February 11, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 10, 2007, 19:30 local (Feb 11, 2007, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Lancaster, TX
- Coordinates: 32.5791666666667, -96.7188888888889
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5792&lon=-96.7189&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 4 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Dallas, Texas
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65300
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65300/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA069

## Probable cause

The spectator's inadvertent contact with the turning propeller while the airplane was standing with the engine operating.  A contributing factor was the dark night conditions.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating
  - propeller/jet blast encounter - inadvertent, spectator (cause)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported that the single-engine airplane was parked on the ramp with the engine idling when a female taking pictures of the pilot and passengers inadvertently walked into the turning propeller.  The pilot reported in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that after conducting a local area flight, he landed and taxied the airplane to the ramp.  He parked the airplane parallel to the terminal building and kept the engine running.  A female observer walked from the terminal building to the left, rear side of the airplane to photograph the passengers in the back seat.  She then proceeded to the front of the aircraft where she was struck by the idling propeller.  There was no damage to the airplane and the pilot and three passengers were not injured.  The female that walked into the propeller sustained serious injuries.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the mishap.

## Factual narrative

The 291-hour private pilot reported that the single-engine airplane was parked on the ramp with the engine idling when a female taking pictures of the pilot and passengers inadvertently walked into the turning propeller.  The pilot reported in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that after conducting a local area flight, he landed and taxied the airplane to the ramp.  He parked the airplane parallel to the terminal building and kept the engine running.  A female observer walked from the terminal building to the left, rear side of the airplane to photograph the passengers in the back seat.  She then proceeded to the front of the aircraft where she was struck by the idling propeller.  There was no damage to the airplane and the pilot and three passengers were not injured.  The female that walked into the propeller sustained serious injuries.  Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the mishap.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N124SJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17280225
- Airframe hours: 2263.9
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lancaster Airport Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2006
- Departed: KLNC, Lancaster, TX
- Destination: KLNC, Lancaster, TX
- Airport: KLNC, Lancaster, runway 13, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 291 total, 250 in this make and model, 226 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KLNC

## 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 20070211001219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070211001219A), Feb 11, 2007: Cessna 172R, Lancaster, TX. (-23) Airman rented subject aircraft and took his mother and two of his sister's friends for a local flight around the Lancaster area. After approximately 30…

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.

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