- Date
- August 30, 1994, 09:40 local (13:40 UTC)
- Place
- Punta Gorda, FL
- Injuries
- 3 minor; on the ground: 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N39283Taylorcraft BC-12-D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940830024059A
- Case key
- 37594
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 failure of the pilot-in-command to tiedown the airplane prior to attempting an engine start by hand propping. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's complacency.
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 private pilot made a decision to hand prop the airplane to start the engine without tiedowns, chocks, or brakes. A passerby stated that he would hold the tail. The pilot hand propped the engine and it started. The passerby then let go of the tail. The pilot, the passerby and another person all attempted to grab the airplane and all received minor injuries before the airplane struck a hangar and a car and came to rest.
Factual narrative
On August 30, 1994, about 0940 eastern daylight time, N39283 was substantially damaged on starting attempt, at Charlotte County Airport, Punta Gorda, Florida. The airplane was registered to EZ Flying Club Inc., and was attempting to initiate a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the proposed local flight. The airplane, a car, and a hangar were substantially damaged and three people on the ramp received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time.
The pilot decided to hand prop the airplane engine without tiedowns, chocks, or brakes being used. One ramp person was holding the tail and the pilot hand prop started the engine. The engine started and the ramp person let go of the airplane. As the airplane spun around on the ramp the pilot and another person attempted to grab it. All three people received minor injuries during their attempts. The airplane then struck a car and a hangar and came to rest.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39283
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC-12-D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6537
- Engine
- Continental A-65-B, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Harold O. Preston
- Registered owner
- Ez Flying Club Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Airport
- PGD · Charlotte County
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
- 74
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 2,969 total · 150 in this make and model · 12 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FMY, 17 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.