- Date
- May 8, 1994, 12:25 local (17:25 UTC)
- Place
- Lancaster, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N111NZCessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940508010309A
- Case key
- 19051
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 use tie downs and proper assistance during the hand propping engine start.
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
Due to a dead battery, the pilot attempted to start the airplane by hand propping the engine while his 14-year-OLD grandson operated the throttle standing outside the right door of the airplane. The engine started running at about 1,400 RPM when the pilot's grandson fell down. The unattended airplane moved across the transient ramp striking three parked airplanes. The airplane was neither tied down or chocked prior to the attempted start. The pilot made no attempt to request assistance from any of the many pilots that were present at the airport restaurant and lounge.
Factual narrative
On May 8, 1994, at 1225 central daylight time, a Cessna 140, N111NZ, was substantially damaged while taxiing at the Lancaster Airport, near Lancaster, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot was not injured, while his passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot attempted to start the airplane by hand propping the engine. The airplane was equipped with an electric starter; however, the pilot found that the battery was dead when he attempted to start the engine on the first flight of the day. The pilot's 14 year old grandson stood outside the right door of the airplane with his hand on the throttle.
According to the pilot, the engine started running at about 1,400 RPM, his grandson apparently fell down and the unattended airplane moved across the transient ramp striking three parked airplanes, causing substantial damage to two, and minor damage to the third.
The pilot stated that he managed to get into the left door, but was unable to stop the airplane. The pilot's grandson was struck in the back by the right horizontal stabilizer.
According to witnesses at the airport, the airplane was neither chocked or tied down. Additionally, the FAA inspector stated that no request for assistance was made by the pilot to any of the many pilots that were present at the airport restaurant and lounge.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N111NZ
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12372
- Airframe hours
- 2,300
- Engine
- Continental C85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Morris, Carol L.J.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 4TX2 · Roanoke, TX
- Airport
- LNC · Lancaster Municipal
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
- 65
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 25,250 total · 50 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F
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 N111NZ · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.