- Date
- January 6, 2017, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lakeport, CA
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Prior to flight
- Aircraft
- N8148TCessna 175
- Defining event
- Prior to flight: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 7, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Case key
- 94632
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 secure the airplane before pulling the propeller through, which resulted in the airplane rolling and subsequently colliding with a parked airplane.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he attempted to start the airplane but that "the starter did not engage the flywheel." He affirmed that he turned off the master switch and exited the airplane. He reported that he was alone when he pulled the propeller through, and the airplane started. The unoccupied airplane rolled across the tarmac and collided with the empennage of a parked airplane. Substantial damage was sustained to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he attempted to start the airplane but "the starter did not engage the flywheel." He affirmed that he turned off the master switch and exited the airplane. He reported that he was alone when he pulled the propeller through and the airplane started. The unoccupied airplane rolled across the tarmac and collided with the empennage of a parked airplane. Substantial damage was sustained to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8148T
- Reported as
- Cessna 175 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17556848
- Built
- 1960
- Airframe hours
- 4,140.65
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 175 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 20, 2016
- Departed
- HES · Healdsburg, CA
- Destination
- 1O2 · Lakeport, CA
- Airport
- 1O2 · Lampson Field
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system
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
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 19, 2015
- Seat
- None
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 650 total · 311 in this make and model · 571.2 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 3.8 in the last 30 days · 0.6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KUKI, 16 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 587 KB in all.