# NTSB GAA20CA025: Cessna 172, N5522S, Key West, FL, October 13, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2019, 21:05 local (Oct 13, 2019, 01:05 UTC) - Place: Key West, FL - Coordinates: 24.55611, -81.760002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5561&lon=-81.7600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100442 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100442/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100442 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA025 ## Probable cause The pilot’s and the passenger's improper decision to have the passenger attempt to move a wheel chock while the propeller was turning, which resulted in a serious injury. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection at night and started the airplane, but the airplane would not move forward as he attempted to taxi from parking to the runway. The pilot looked out the left window to see if there were wheel chocks, and his passenger exited the right door and checked the right main landing gear wheel for chocks. The passenger subsequently moved to the front of the airplane and attempted to remove the chocks from the nosewheel. The passenger's right hand was struck by the propeller, which resulted in a serious injury. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he performed the preflight inspection at night and started the airplane, but the airplane would not move forward as he attempted to taxi from parking to the runway. The pilot looked out the airplane's left window in search of wheel chocks, and his passenger exited the airplane's right door and checked the right main landing gear wheel for chocks. The passenger subsequently moved to the front of the airplane and attempted to remove the chocks from the nose wheel. The passenger's right hand was struck by the propeller. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5522S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5522S), registered now, S/N 172S11430, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S11430 - Year built: 2014 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paragon Flight Training Co - Registered owner: Paragon Flight Training Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FMY, Fort Myers, FL - Destination: FMY, Fort Myers, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: EYW, Key West Intl - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review June 22, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 164.6 total, 152.3 in this make and model, 98 as pilot in command, 29.2 in the last 90 days, 7.9 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 40° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KEYW ## 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 20191012019629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191012019629A), Oct 12, 2019: Cessna 172S, Key West, FL, Minor damage. On Saturday oct 12, 2019 I received a call from the FAA roc in reference to prop strike at eyw airport involving N5522S. Husband and wife were operating the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100442. 705 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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.