# NTSB LAX04LA089: Cessna 172L, N7668G, Vacaville, CA, December 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 2003, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Vacaville, CA - Coordinates: 38.376945, -121.962501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3769&lon=-121.9625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58593 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58593/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA089 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate hand prop starting procedure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - starting engine(s) - starting procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The propeller contacted and fatally injured the pilot while he was attempting to start the engine by hand propping. The airplane was found tied down, and the left main wheel was chocked. The left door was open and the magneto switch was in the "Both" position. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 2003, about 0900 Pacific standard time, the propeller of a Cessna 172L, N7668G, contacted the pilot while he was hand propping the airplane at the Nut Tree Airport, Vacaville, California. The pilot, also the registered owner, was operating the flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries; the airplane was not damaged. The flight was destined for the Lincoln Airport, Lincoln, California, and was originating at the time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot succumbed to his injuries on January 2, 2004. The responding Solano County Sheriff's Office deputy reported that family members discovered the injured pilot on December 27. The pilot sustained head injuries, and was seated in the passenger seat of his vehicle that was parked at the airport. The airplane was tied down, and the left main wheel was chocked. The left door was open and the magneto switch was in the "Both" position. The pilot's right shoe was on the right side of the airplane, forward of the propeller. A trail of blood led from the front of the airplane to the passenger side of the pilot's vehicle. The pilot was initially hospitalized with serious head injuries and subsequently died on January 2, 2004. Federal Aviation Administration publication, Preventing Accidents During Aircraft Ground Operations (FAA-P-8740-20), presents suggestions to aid in increasing the safety factor while hand starting airplanes. The publication states the following: "No one should attempt to start an aircraft engine without a qualified person at the cockpit controls. The person turning the propeller should be properly trained in the technique of hand cranking. If you have in mind to try hand propping by yourself - DON'T. If you must hand prop - get qualified help to position the engine controls and switches during the starting procedure. If hand propping can be avoided - DO." "Unsupervised 'hand propping' of an airplane should not be attempted by inexperienced persons. Regardless of the experience level, it should never be attempted by anyone without adhering to adequate safety measures. Uninformed or inexperienced persons or non-pilot passengers should never handle the throttle, brakes, or switches during starting procedures. The airplane should be securely chocked or tied down, and great care should be exercised in setting the throttle. It may be well to turn the fuel selector valve to the 'off' position after properly priming the engine and prior to actually attempting the hand start. After it starts, the engine will usually run long enough with the fuel 'off' to permit walking around the propeller and turning the fuel selector to the 'on' position." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7668G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7668G-2008-05-16), registration cancelled 2008-05-16, S/N 17259368, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172L - Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17259368 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mostafa Tabatabai - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: VCB, Vacaville, CA - Destination: LHM, Lincoln Airport, CA - Airport: VCB, Nut Tree Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: VCB ## 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 20031226035949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031226035949A), Dec 26, 2003: Cessna 172L, Vacaville, CA, 1 fatal. (-23) Per the sheriff's report, it appears as if the pilot attempted to hand prop the aircraft, slipped and fell. The pilot sustained fatal head injuries but… ## Other investigations on N7668G (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 LAX05LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA197), Jun 7, 2005: Cessna 172L (N7668G), Santa Ynez, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a stall and collision with terrain. - [NTSB LAX96LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA134), Mar 14, 1996: Cessna 172L (N7668G), Napa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft, and the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172L, N7668G, to follow VFR procedures by not yielding the right of way to the Cessna 172M,… 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.