- Date
- August 23, 2001, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Odom, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N9154BCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010823024579A
- Case key
- 53094
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 follow the proper procedures for hand-propping an airplane.
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.
Analysis
The pilot attempted to start the airplane; however, he was unsuccessful due to a weak battery. He stated that he moved the throttle to the closed position and exited the airplane. His passenger remained in the airplane. He rotated the propeller manually and the engine started. He then moved away from the airplane; however, the airplane began moving across the airstrip. The passenger saw trees and jumped from the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the trees and came to a stop. The pilot added that he may have "bumped the throttle" as he was exiting the airplane.
Factual narrative
On August 23, 2001, at 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N9154B, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during taxi at a private grass airstrip near Odom, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot was not injured and his one non-pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, he attempted to start the airplane; however, he was unsuccessful due to a weak battery. He stated that he moved the throttle to the closed position and exited the airplane. His passenger remained in the airplane. He rotated the propeller manually and the engine started. He then moved away from the airplane; however, the airplane began moving across the airstrip. The passenger saw trees and jumped from the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the trees and came to a stop. The pilot added that he may have "bumped the throttle" as he was exiting the airplane.
According to the pilot, the wings were folded aft and the engine and propeller were damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9154B
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36754
- Airframe hours
- 4,400
- Engine
- Continental O-300, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry L. Rogers
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2001
- Departed
- NONE · Odom, AR
- Airport
- NONE · Private Strip
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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- March 1, 2000
- Flight hours
- 165 total · 35 in this make and model · 165 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- LRF, 10 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.
Other investigations on N9154B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.