# NTSB MIA98LA119: Piper PA-28-181, N4594F, Charlotte, NC, April 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 1998, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, NC - Location: 35.2132° N, 80.9514° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHARLOTTE/DOUGLAS INTL (CLT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2132&lon=-80.9514&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38486 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38486/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA119 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to follow proper starting procedures. ## Analysis After a preflight, pilot 'A' got into the left seat and pilot 'B' into the right seat and attempted to start the engine, but could not sustain a start. Both pilots exited the airplane and agreed to remove the cowling to determine the problem. Both pilots determined it was not a mechanical problem and pilot 'B' volunteered to get into the airplane and attempt to start the engine. According to pilot 'B''s statement, he told pilot 'A' to 'stay clear of the prop.' He sat in the pilot's seat, looked out and saw pilot 'A' standing to the right of the aircraft, clear of the prop. Pilot 'B' said he 'shouted clear' from the open window on the pilot's side, turned the ignition and the engine 'fired immediately.' He then looked to the right after the engine engaged, saw blood on the wing, and the plane began to race. He said, '...I applied maximum pressure on the toe brakes, but could not stop the plane from moving forward into an open hangar directly in front of the plane. The prop hit a car parked in the hangar and I noticed the right wing bend...fuel start to leak from the tank...the throttle was advanced. I closed the throttle and mixture and the engine finally choked out.' Pilot 'B' then went to the other pilot, rendered aid and called for medical help. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 1998, about 1015 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N4594F, registered to The 181 Corporation, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted with a vehicle and hangar during engine start near Charlotte, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot in the airplane was not injured. Another private-rated pilot outside the airplane was seriously injured when he was struck by the propeller. The flight was originating at the time. The pilots were planning to fly to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They untied the airplane and pulled it out of the shadeport to the tarmac between the hangars, and completed a preflight on the airplane. Pilot "A" got into the left seat and pilot "B" into the right seat. They secured the doors, fastened their seat belts, and attempted to start the engine, but could not sustain a start. Pilot "A" suggested to pilot "B" that he "back rotate the prop" a few times. Pilot "B" rotated the propeller counterclockwise once, and told pilot "A" to try and start the engine. As the engine was turning over, pilot "B" noted smoke coming from the engine and told the other pilot to abort the start. Pilot "A" then exited the airplane and both pilots agreed to remove the cowling in an attempt to determine the origin of the smoke. Both pilots determined it was not a mechanical problem and pilot "B" volunteered to get into the airplane and attempt to start the engine. According to pilot "B" 's statement, he told pilot "A" to "stay clear of the prop." He sat in the pilot's seat and looked out and saw pilot "A," "...standing to the right of the aircraft clear of the prop." Pilot "B" said he "shouted clear" from the open window on the pilot's side, turned the ignition, and the engine "fired immediately." He then looked to the right after the engine engaged, "saw blood on the wing, and the plane began to race." He said, "...I applied maximum pressure on the toe brakes, but could not stop the plane from moving forward into an open hangar directly in front of the plane. The prop hit a car parked in the hangar and I noticed the right wing bend...fuel start to leak from the tank...the throttle was advanced. I closed the throttle and mixture and the engine finally choked out." Pilot "B" then went to the other pilot, rendered aid and called for medical help. ## 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 - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - parking brakes - not set, pilot in command (cause) - object - other person ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4594F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4594F), registered now, S/N 28-7790048, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7750048 - Airframe hours: 6562 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: The 181 Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 1997, 61 hours before - Destination: IGY, CHAPEL HILL, NC - Airport: CLT, Charlotte Douglas ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,074 total, 874 in this make and model, 858 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT ## 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 19980403005519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980403005519A), Apr 3, 1998: Piper PA28181, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. 2 Pilots. NR2 failed to turn switch to start. Got out NR1 started engine and NR2 pilots right arm was severed by prop. (-23) two friends had completed all… 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.