- Date
- January 9, 2003, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Jean, NV
- Injuries
- 3 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 2 minor
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030109037739A
- Case key
- 56309
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 of the other airplane's use of an improper starting procedure and his failure to obtain appropriate assistance.
The pilot's use of an improper starting procedure and his failure to obtain appropriate assistance.
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
The pilot of the Aeronca was attempting to hand prop his airplane to start the engine without it being secured and without anyone at the controls. When the Aeronca did start, it got away from both the pilot and the individual who was attempting to hold the tail, and collided with the PT-17. Another bystander tried to help stop the Aeronca but was knocked down on the ground and struck his head. The airplane then turned to the right until the right front of the Aeronca struck the right front of the PT-17, which was waiting in the run-up area, with the engine idling, to depart with the Aeronca as a flight of two.
The pilot was attempting to hand prop his airplane without it being secured, and without anyone at the controls. When the Aeronca did start, it got away from both the pilot and the individual who was attempting to hold the tail, and collided with another airplane. Another bystander tried to help stop the Aeronca but was knocked down on the ground and struck his head. The airplane then turned to the right until the right front of the Aeronca struck the right front of Boeing PT-17, which was waiting in the run-up area, with the airplane engine idling, to depart with the Aeronca as a flight of two.
Factual narrative
On January 9, 2003, about 1330 Pacific standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N84889, collided with a Boeing Stearman PT-17, N68820, at the Jean, Nevada, airport after the airplane started and left its parking place while being hand propped. Both airplanes were being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Both airplanes received substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, in the Boeing was not injured. The private pilot of the Aeronca was not injured; however, an individual who had been holding the tail, as well as a bystander who attempted to render assistance, both received minor injuries. The intended personal cross-country flight was to depart Jean, en route to the North Las Vegas, Nevada airport. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot of the Aeronca was attempting to hand prop his airplane without it being secured and without anyone at the controls.
When the Aeronca did start, it got away from both the pilot and the individual who was attempting to hold the tail. Another bystander tried to help stop the Aeronca but was knocked down on the ground and struck his head. The airplane then turned to the right until the right front of the Aeronca struck the right front of the Boeing.
The pilot of the Boeing was waiting in the run-up area, with the airplane engine idling, and was waiting to depart with the Aeronca as a flight of two.
On January 9, 2003, about 1330 Pacific standard time, an Aeronca 7AC, N84889, collided with a Boeing Stearman PT-17, N68820, at the Jean, Nevada, airport after the airplane started and left its parking place while being hand propped. Both airplanes were being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Both airplanes received substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, in the Boeing was not injured. The private pilot of the Aeronca was not injured; however, an individual who had been holding the tail, as well as a bystander who attempted to render assistance, both received minor injuries. The intended personal cross-country flight was to depart Jean, en route to the North Las Vegas, Nevada airport. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot of the Aeronca was attempting to hand prop his airplane without it being secured and without anyone at the controls.
When the Aeronca did start, it got away from both the pilot and the individual who was attempting to hold the tail. Another bystander tried to help stop the Aeronca but was knocked down on the ground and struck his head. The airplane then turned to the right until the right front of the Aeronca struck the right front of the Boeing.
The pilot of the Boeing was waiting in the run-up area, with the airplane engine idling, and was waiting to depart with the Aeronca as a flight of two.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N84889
- Reported as
- Aeronca 7AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7AC3608
- Airframe hours
- 1,233.99
- Engine
- Continental C90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wyatt, Kenneth H
- Registered owner
- Kenneth H. Wyatt and Phyllis P. Wyatt Family Trust
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 6, 2002 · 6.8 hours before
- Departed
- 0L7 · Jean Airport, NV
- Destination
- VGT · North Las Vegas, NV
- Airport
- 0L7 · Jean
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.
- Registration
- N68820
- Reported as
- Boeing Stearman PT-17
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-5350
- Engine
- Lycoming R680, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kodimer, Ronald A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 10, 2002 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- Jean, NV
- Destination
- VGT · North las Vegas, NV
- Airport
- 0L7 · Jean
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N84889
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- February 27, 2001
- Flight hours
- 3,300 total · 25 in this make and model · 3,300 as pilot in command · 49 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N68820
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 22, 2001
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,888 total · 40 in this make and model · 1,888 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2004, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 876 KB 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 N84889 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.