# NTSB MIA02LA009: Cessna 172P, N52685, Knoxville, TN, October 15, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 2001, 08:55 local (12:55 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Location: 35.8111° N, 83.9941° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MC GHEE TYSON (TYS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8111&lon=-83.9941&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 7, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53619/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's inattentive preflight inspection, non-compliance with the prestart checklist, decision to leave the cockpit unattended with engine running, and his inadvertent deactivation of the parking brake as he exited to remove a wheel chock, resulting in non-piloted taxi from the aircraft's starting point and collision with an airport terminal structure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) operating - aircraft preflight - inattentive, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not complied with, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - performed, pilot in command (cause) - parking brakes - inadvertent deactivation, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis According to the pilot, as he added power to commence taxi, he realized that he overlooked removing a chock from his right wheel, and instead of shutting down the engine, decided to set his parking brake, leaving the engine running while he removed the chock. Somehow in sliding out of his seat, he must have bumped the parking brake handle enough to disengage it, because when the chock was removed, the aircraft began movement. The ramp was slightly downhill, and he was unable to catch the aircraft until it collided with two airport terminal concrete columns. The aircraft sustained wing spar damage, and his passenger was uninjured. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2001, about 0855 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N52685, registered to Marashi Aviation, LLC., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, sustained a ground collision with airport terminal concrete columns at Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage, and the commercially-rated pilot and a passenger were not injured. The planned departure had not occurred at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, after engine start and attempt to taxi, he realized that a chock was still in place at his right main wheel. He set the parking brake, told his right seat occupant to sit still, and exited the cockpit to remove the chock. Once he removed the chock, the aircraft taxied forward where the right wing collided with a concrete column of the terminal canopy, pivoting the aircraft and causing the left wing to collide with another column. The wing main spar sustained damage, as well as left wing fuel tank rupture. Postcrash examination of the cockpit revealed that the parking brake was not set. He stated that the parking brake must have been inadvertently released as he slid out of his seat. According to an FAA inspector, the distance the unpiloted aircraft traveled prior to the collision with the concrete columns was about 300 feet. The ramp possessed a slight downhill slope in the direction the aircraft was headed at engine start, and although the pilot tried to catch the taxiing aircraft, he was unable. The left wing sustained leading edge collision damage one foot from the wing tip, the right wing leading edge sustained damage just outboard of the lift strut attachment, and the wing spar center section was bent. The passenger exited the aircraft, postcrash, uninjured. Two FAA inspectors examined the brake system and found no discrepancies. Their conclusion was, "It is my opinion that the pilot accidentally hit the parking brake handle with his knee when he exited the aircraft and the return spring for the handle pulled the parking brake handle to the off position, releasing the brakes." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52685](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52685), registered now, S/N 17274580, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274580 - Airframe hours: 7767 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Marashi Aviation, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2001, 74.7 hours before - Departed: TYS, Knoxville, TN - Destination: JAN, Jackson, MS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TYS, McGhee-Tyson ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 6, 2001; flight hours: 432 total, 402 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 1 nm away ## 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 20011015027579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011015027579A), Oct 15, 2001: Cessna 172P, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot had received an IFR clearance and was cleared for taxi by tys ground control. Pilot realized a wheel chock was still in place. He set the parking… 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.