- Date
- January 24, 1995, 01:00 local (07:00 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N4892ACessna A152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950124001189A
- Case key
- 19344
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 inadequate supervision of the passenger. A factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight of the aircraft.
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
As the pilot prepared to taxi the aircraft, he realized that the nose wheel was chocked. The passenger exited the aircraft to remove the chocks while the engine continued to run. Subsequently, the passenger was struck by the propeller. The pilot performed a 'normal preflight' but failed to remove the chocks.
Factual narrative
On January 24, 1995, at 0100 central standard time, a passenger in a Cessna A152, N4892A, was fatally injured during ground operations near Houston, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane sustained minor damage.
According to the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot performed a "normal" preflight of the aircraft. "The pilot and passenger got into the plane, and the pilot started the engine." As he attempted to taxi, he realized that the nose wheel chocks were still in place. The pilot stated that the passenger "volunteered" to remove the chocks. He further stated that he "reminded the passenger to stay clear of the propeller." The passenger then exited the right door and proceeded around the rear of the aircraft. According to the pilot, she kneeled down to remove the chocks. "Then she stood up and turned towards the propeller." Subsequently, the passenger was struck in the head by the propeller.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4892A
- Reported as
- Cessna A152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- A1520906
- Airframe hours
- 3,083
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Fire
- Unknown
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bell Flight Training
- Registered owner
- The Donnelly Group
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 12, 1994 · 34 hours before
- Departed
- SGR · TX
- Destination
- AUS · Austin, TX
- Airport
- SGR · Houston Hull
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 181 total · 41 in this make and model · 129 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.