- Date
- November 10, 2019, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mexico, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N29173Cessna U206
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20191110017009A
- Case key
- 100559
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 properly set the parking brake before exiting an operating airplane, which resulted in a runaway airplane and subsequent impact with trees.
Findings · 2
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, after starting the airplane with a ground power unit (GPU), he exited the airplane. He disconnected the GPU and removed the wheel chocks. The airplane started to roll down an incline. He jumped into the airplane through the aft cargo door and attempted to climb into the pilot's seat to no avail. He pulled the fuel to cut off, and the airplane impacted the trees. The pilot further reported that he had set the parking brake before starting the airplane but either failed to set it completely or bumped it when he exited the pilot's seat to disconnect the GPU. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the right-wing lift strut. 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 of the turbo prop airplane reported that, after starting the airplane with a ground power unit (GPU) he exited the airplane. He disconnected the GPU and removed the wheel chocks. The airplane started to roll down an incline. He jumped into the airplane through the aft cargo door and attempted climb into the pilot's seat, to no avail. He pulled the fuel to cut off and the airplane impacted the trees. The pilot further reported that he had set the parking brake before starting the airplane, but either failed to set it completely or bumped it when he exited the pilot's seat to disconnect the GPU. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and right wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N29173
- Reported as
- Cessna U206 (C)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U206-1140
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 14,851.4
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney PT6A-20, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 7, 2019
- Departed
- 6MU4 · Mexico, MO
- Destination
- 10MO · Williamsburg, MO
- Airport
- 6MU4 · Flying Shamrock
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B
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
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2019
- Seat
- None
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 8,524 total · 315.6 in this make and model · 6,500 as pilot in command · 15.1 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 0.2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KMYJ, 8 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 MB in all.
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 N29173 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.