# NTSB FTW96LA142: Cessna 150F, N8642S, Jasper, TX, March 2, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 2, 1996, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Jasper, TX - Coordinates: 30.91986, -93.990371 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9199&lon=-93.9904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19780/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA142 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to ensure that the other person (outside the airplane) remained clear of the operating propeller, and failure of the other person to maintain awareness of the hazardous condition. A factor relating to the accident was: the other person diverted his attention to spectators, who were standing nearby. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - unsafe/hazardous condition - disregarded, other person (cause) - diverted attention, other person (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, she had just landed after a local flight with a passenger. While taxiing toward the terminal, a person, who was standing on the ramp, adjacent to the taxiway, approached the airplane from the left (pilot's) side. The pilot then stopped the airplane, idled the engine, and had a brief conversation with the person. During the conversation, the pilot agreed to embark the person after her current passenger exited the airplane, and take the person for a short flight. While conversing, the person was located aft of the left wing strut, and the pilot's door was open. Several spectators, who were observing the activity from the ramp area, reported that after the conversation with the pilot, the person turned to wave at them, and then walked into the propeller. ## Factual narrative On March 2, 1996, at 1715 central standard time, a Cessna 150F, N8642S, registered to a private owner, and operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was standing with the engine operating, when a potential passenger outside the airplane contacted the propeller, at Jasper County Airport, Jasper, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The rental airplane sustained minor damaged, and the private pilot-in- command and one passenger were not injured. The person who contacted the propeller sustained serious injuries. The personal flight was intended to embark the potential passenger, and fly in the local area. According to the pilot, she had just landed after a local sight- seeing flight with a passenger. As she was taxiing toward the terminal, a person, who was standing on the ramp adjacent to the taxiway, approached the airplane from the left (pilot's) side. She then stopped the airplane, idled the engine, and had a brief conversation with the person who approached the airplane. During the conversation, the pilot agreed to embark the person after her current passenger got out of the airplane, and go for a short flight in the local area. During the conversation, the person was located aft of the left wing strut. Several spectators, who were observing the activity from the ramp area, reported that, after the conversation with the pilot, the person turned to wave at them, and then walked into the propeller. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8642S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8642S-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 15061942, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61942 - Airframe hours: 4640 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kevin L. Cottle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1995, 70 hours before - Departed: JAS - Destination: JAS - Airport: JAS, Bell Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 40 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F ## 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 19960302012179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960302012179A), Mar 2, 1996: Cessna 150F, Jasper, TX. Person walking around aircraft to embark was struck by the idling propeller. Not cautioned by pilot to avoid same. ## Other investigations on N8642S (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN10FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA011), Oct 10, 2009: Cessna 150F (N8642S), Alexandria, LA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: Failure of the wingman to maintain proper separation from the lead airplane during formation maneuvers. Contributing to the accident was lead's abrupt right bank and both pilots' lack of formation… 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.