- Date
- August 26, 2010, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tampa, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N1321CColumbia Aircraft Mfg LC42-550FG
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 11, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100826053499A
- Case key
- 77098
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to reduce engine power following a high-powered engine start.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he proceeded through the pre-engine start checklist and set the parking brake. After several failed attempts to start the engine, he increased the power lever setting before another start attempt. The engine subsequently started and the airplane abruptly lurched forward toward another airplane parked 150 feet directly ahead. The pilot immediately applied right rudder, which turned his airplane to the right; however, the right wing struck the parked airplane, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot exited the airplane uneventfully after it skidded to a stop. A witness reported hearing the airplane's engine start and described that it sounded as if the airplane was ready to take off. A photograph revealed tire skid marks leading to and beyond the parked airplane.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, following the preflight inspection, he entered the airplane, proceeded through the pre-engine start checklist, and set the parking brake. After several failed attempts to start the engine, the pilot increased the power lever setting before another start attempt. The engine subsequently started, and the airplane "abruptly launched forward," and "skidded through the parking [brake]" toward another airplane parked 150 feet directly ahead. The pilot immediately applied right rudder, which turned his airplane to the right; however the right wing struck the propeller and left wing of the parked airplane, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot subsequently exited his airplane uneventfully after it skidded to a stop. A witness reported hearing the airplane's engine start and described that it sounded as if the airplane was "ready to take off." A photograph revealed tire skid marks leading to and beyond the parked airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1321C
- Reported as
- Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC42-550FG
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 42517
- Airframe hours
- 119
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 28, 2010
- Departed
- VDF · Tampa, FL
- Destination
- VDF · Tampa, FL
- Airport
- VDF · Tampa Executive Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 483 total · 58 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VDF, 1 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.