# NTSB LAX03LA062: Aeronca 7AC, N84889, Jean, NV, January 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2003, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Jean, NV - Coordinates: 35.775554, -115.631385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7756&lon=-115.6314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56309/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56309 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA062 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The pilot of the other airplane's use of an improper starting procedure and his failure to obtain appropriate assistance. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The pilot's use of an improper starting procedure and his failure to obtain appropriate assistance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - starting engine(s) - object - aircraft parked/standing - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - object - aircraft parked/standing - starting procedure - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 (aircraft 2) 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. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N84889](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84889), registered now, S/N 7AC-3608 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC3608 - Airframe hours: 1233.99 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N68820](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68820), registered now, S/N 75-5350, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing Stearman PT-17 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming R680](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-r680) (registry code 41540, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-5350 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N84889; age 68; injuries: minor; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N68820; age 67; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20030109037739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030109037739A), Jan 9, 2003: Boeing A75N1, Jean, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) PIC was waiting for the other aircraft (N84889) to get started before taxiing out to depart for north las vegas airport (vgt). His aircraft engine was… ## Other investigations on N84889 (2) 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 FTW88LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA118), Jun 9, 1988: Aeronca 7AC (N84889), Roanoke, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW69F0190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0190), Aug 11, 1968: Aeronca 7AC (N84889), Grapevine, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56309. 876 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1A (item 1, .PDF, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1A-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1B (item 2, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1B-Redacted.PDF - Report from LAS FSDO (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20LAS%20FSDO-Redacted.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.