# NTSB LAX04LA045: OMF OMF-100-160, N290MF, Van Nuys, CA, November 15, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 14, 2003, 19:30 local (Nov 15, 2003, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Van Nuys, CA - Coordinates: 34.20972, -119.489997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2097&lon=-119.4900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58350 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58350/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA045 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to either brief the passenger about disembarking from an airplane with the propeller running or to shutdown the engine during the passenger's disembarkation. The night lighting condition and the passenger's lack of familiarity with airplanes were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating - light condition - night (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - safety advisory - not issued, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, passenger (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, passenger (cause) ## Analysis A passenger sustained serious injuries after walking into a moving propeller at night. The passenger said that after she got out of the airplane, she walked to the front and into the moving propeller. The passenger was not briefed on exiting procedures for the airplane. This was the passenger's first flight in a small airplane. ## Factual narrative On November 14, 2003, about 1930 Pacific standard time, a passenger sustained serious injuries after walking into a moving propeller while disembarking from an OMF OMF-100-160 airplane, N290MF, at Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Van Nuys, California. Alliance International was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained minor damage. The flight departed Chino Airport (CNO), Chino, California, at 1730. Night visual metrological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a phone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) on November 20, the operator reported that he was not informed of the accident. The operator discovered a nick on the propeller the day following the accident and could not determine its origination. He stated that the pilot of the airplane began his training at Alliance International, but then changed schools to finish his certificate. After the pilot received his private pilot certificate, he returned to Alliance International as a renter pilot and went through an extensive flight check. The passenger was interviewed via telephone by the IIC on December 2, 2003. She reported that after getting out of the airplane, she walked to the front. Initially, she did not realize what happened. Then she saw the injury. She ran to the pilot and told him. Then, she ran toward the police and soon after, went into shock. The passenger was not briefed on exiting procedures for the airplane. This was the passenger's first flight in a small airplane. The pilot of the airplane submitted NTSB Form 6120.1/2 but did not provide a statement. On November 16, the pilot left a phone message with the IIC indicating that after arrival at Van Nuys, he shut the airplane down. He walked inside a building and his passenger departed for her car. He came back, started the airplane, and then heard screaming. The pilot then shut the airplane down and assisted his passenger. The pilot later submitted a written statement after a request was made by the IIC. He stated that he picked up his passenger at Van Nuys. They flew to Camarillo Airport and returned to Van Nuys around 1930. He shutdown the airplane and he and the passenger disembarked. He accompanied his passenger to her car and then went inside to use the restroom. The pilot then restarted the airplane and heard a loud noise. He immediately "cut the mixture and shut the magnetos and went out to see what happened." He found his passenger asking for help and her hand was bleeding. He did not know why she returned to the airplane at the time, but found out later that she had left her hat in the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N290MF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N290MF-2018-03-02), registration cancelled 2018-03-02, S/N 0029, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: OMF OMF-100-160 - Registry model: [OMF OMF-100-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/omf-omf-100-160) (registry code 05611Y0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29 - Airframe hours: 203.9 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alliance International - Registered owner: Daniel Abbott - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 20, 2003, 200.3 hours before - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: KVNY, Van Nuys, CA - Airport: VNY, Van Nuys ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 185 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KVNY ## 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 20031114035059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031114035059A), Nov 14, 2003: Amtr OMF100160, Van Nuys, CA. (-23) Pilot stated that he entered the aircraft, after dropping off one passenger and escorting her to the gate, and started the engine. While completing the… 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.