# NTSB ERA13LA075: Cessna 172F, N8475U, Albemarle, NC, December 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 2012, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Albemarle, NC - Coordinates: 35.416667, -80.150558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4167&lon=-80.1506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 85737 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85737/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85737 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA075 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to remain clear of the airplane’s rotating propeller. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) - [Propeller system: propeller blade section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md) - [Oversight: oversight of operation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · Operator; cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032015/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of procedures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=2072414), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot and flight instructor had landed, parked, and secured the airplane. They returned about 15 minutes later and attempted to restart the airplane but were unable to do so. An external battery supply was connected to the airplane by the owner of the flight school, and at that time of the engine start, the student was located behind the airplane. After the engine was started, the instructor allowed the engine to idle for about 1 minute while the external power supply was removed by the owner. Neither the owner nor the instructor observed the student walk from the rear of the airplane to the front until the airplane's engine made an unusual sound, and they then noticed the student running from the front of the airplane. The student pilot sustained a serious injury to his left arm. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 2012, about 1315 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172, N8475U, sustained minor damage when a student pilot came into contact with the rotating propeller, following engine start at Stanly County Airport (VUJ), Albemarle, North Carolina. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated by Pressley Aviation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local instructional flight. According to the CFI and the operator, the flight departed Goose Creek Airport (28A), Indian Trail, North Carolina about 1030 and flew to VUJ. After practicing touch-and-go landings, the CFI and student performed a full-stop landing and taxied to the ramp, where the airplane's engine was shut down and the pilots exited the airplane. About 15 minutes later, both pilots returned to the airplane for another flight and possible solo flight for the student pilot; however, after several attempts, the engine could not be started and the airplane's battery was depleted. The owner of the flight school connected an external battery supply and the airplane's engine started. The CFI climbed into the airplane after the engine started and allowed the engine to idle for about one minute while the owner secured the cowling, and the student pilot remained outside and aft of the airplane. The owner reported seeing the student pilot's glasses blow off and the student was last seen about 30 feet behind the running airplane. The owner and CFI remained in eye contact with each other to facilitate removal of the external battery supply and securing the cowling. During this time, the owner and the CFI heard a sound from the engine, and noticed the student pilot running from the front of the airplane. The engine was shut down, and the student pilot was transported to the hospital. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8475U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8475U), registered now, S/N 17252375, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F - Registry model: [Cessna 172F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (registry code 2072414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17252375 - Airframe hours: 7146 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 30, 2012 - Departed: VUJ, Albemarle, NC - Destination: VUJ, Albemarle, NC - Airport: VUJ, Stanly County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 330 total, 220 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 1; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: VUJ ## 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 20121202027779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121202027779A), Dec 2, 2012: Cessna 172F, Albemarle, NC, Minor damage. Instructor pilot [privacy data omitted] and student pilot [privacy data omitted] were in process of a supervised solo. Instructor [privacy data omitted] could… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85737. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 390 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383581&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - CFI and Operator's Written Statement (item 2, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20and%20Operator%27s%20Written%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Stanly County Weather (item 3, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Stanly%20County%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane with Propeller Damage (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383563&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20with%20Propeller%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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.