- Date
- August 7, 1994, 05:30 local (09:30 UTC)
- Place
- Clearwater, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N67334Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940807020529A
- Case key
- 37583
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-in-command's decision to intentionally exit the airplane with the engine running, and failure to maintain a clearance from the propeller. The improper aircraft preflight was a factor.
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-in-command stated he started the engine and noticed he had not removed the left wing tie-down during the preflight inspection. He retarded the throttle to the idle position, exited the airplane, walked around to the front of the leading edge of the left wing, removed the tie-down, turned to the left, and walked into the propeller.
Factual narrative
On August 7, 1994, about 0530 eastern daylight time, an unmanned Cessna 152, N67334, registered to Leaseair Clearwater Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the pilot-in-command and a parked airplane on the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. The airplanes sustained minor damage. The private pilot received a serious injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot stated he started the engine and noticed he had not removed the left wing tie-down during the preflight inspection. He retarded the throttle to the idle position, exited the airplane, walked around to the front of the leading edge of the left wing, removed the tie-down, turned to the left, and walked into the propeller.
The Pilot's Operating Handbook for the Cessna 152, Section 4, Normal Procedures, Preflight Inspection, states in the checklist, wing tie-down-disconnect. It further states in the before start engine checklist, brakes-test and set.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N67334
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15281762
- Airframe hours
- 4,998
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Leaseair Clearwater Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 7, 1994 · 80 hours before
- Destination
- PNS · Pensacola, FL
- Airport
- PIE · St. Pete-Clearwater Int
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 21
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 72 total · 69 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE
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 N67334 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.