# NTSB ERA13LA248: Cessna 172N, N4702F, Geneva, FL, May 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 18, 2013, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Geneva, FL - Coordinates: 28.732778, -81.078613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7328&lon=-81.0786&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 - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86948 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86948/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86948 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA248 ## Probable cause The passenger’s failure to adhere to the pilot’s instructions to stay away from the front of the airplane when the engine was operating. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/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) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had previously flown two passengers on separate flights. They reported that the pilot briefed them that they were to enter and exit the airplane at all times from the right rear and that, at no time, should they be near or in front of the airplane while the engine was operating. A third passenger boarded the airplane from the right rear, and the flight departed for a local flight. The pilot reported that, after landing and with the engine still running, he briefed the passenger to deplane to the rear. The passenger exited the airplane and closed the door. However, instead of walking to the rear as instructed, she cleared the right wing lift strut and walked forward. The pilot yelled to her to stop but not before the propeller contacted her arm, causing a serious injury. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2013, about 1750 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N4702F, registered to and operated by a private individual, had a passenger contact the turning propeller while exiting the airplane after landing at Southerland Strip Airport (FD92), Geneva, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight from FD92. The airplane was not damaged and the private pilot was not injured. The passenger was seriously injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes earlier from FD92. According to the pilot, prior to any flights, he briefed each passenger as a group where to stand on the ground prior to boarding the airplane, and to wait until told what to do before boarding the airplane. He also briefed each passenger when they boarded the airplane, and before leaving the airplane. The instructions he gave during the exit briefing including advising each passenger to exit the airplane to the rear and also to tell the next waiting passenger to board the airplane from the right rear. Following each flight he kept the engine running. He flew 2 passengers uneventfully and then the third passenger boarded the airplane from the rear for a 10 minute flight. He briefed her upon entering the airplane, and then departed on a local flight. After landing he taxied the airplane to a spot on the field and with the engine running, he advised her to exit to the rear but to tell the waiting passenger that person would be unable to go because of weight issues. The passenger exited the airplane, closed the door, and instead of walking to the rear as instructed, rounded the right wing lift strut and walked forward. He yelled to her to stop but not before the propeller contacted her arm. He secured the engine and the injured passenger received medical attention then was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injury. The two passengers previously flown by the pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector-in-charge that the pilot briefed them that they were to enter and exit the aircraft at all times from the right rear and at no time should they be near or in front of the airplane while the engine is operating. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4702F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4702F), registered now, S/N 17273074, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273074 - Airframe hours: 3740 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Shaw Daniel C - Registered owner: Shaw Daniel C - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 2012 - Departed: FD92, Geneva, FL - Destination: FD92, Geneva, FL - Airport: FD92, Southerland Strip Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SFB, 9 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130518009879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130518009879A), May 18, 2013: Cessna 172N, Geneva, FL, No damage. Passenger exited aircraft on r/h side and walked into propeller while engine was idling. The passenger was briefed about entering and exiting the aircraft from… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86948. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393359&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Interviews (item 4, .PDF, 406 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Interviews-Redacted.PDF - Record of Interview with Pilot-In-Command (item 5, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-In-Command-Redacted.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.