- Date
- September 1, 1998, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Leesburg, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N5797RCessna 172G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980901022509A
- Case key
- 43811
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's decision to leave the engine running with no one at the controls as he exited the aircraft to check for wheel chocks in place. This resulted in the aircraft moving uncontrolled and eventually colliding with a fence.
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
When the pilot attempted to taxi for takeoff, the aircraft would not move. He left the engine running and exited the aircraft to see if he had left the wheel chocks in place. As he exited the aircraft it began to move. He could not get back in the aircraft due to the propeller blast. The aircraft taxied uncontrolled and made a 360 degree turn. The aircraft then taxied across a taxiway and field and collided with a fence.
Factual narrative
On September 1, 1998, about 1200 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N5797R, registered to an individual, collided with a fence at Leesburg Municipal Airport, Leesburg, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that when he attempted to begin taxiing for takeoff, the aircraft would not move. He left the engine running and exited the aircraft to see if he had left the wheel chocks in place. As he exited the aircraft it began to move. The wind from the propeller prevented him from getting back in the aircraft. The aircraft taxied uncontrolled and made a 360-degree turn. The aircraft then taxied across a taxiway into a field and collided with a fence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5797R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17253466
- Airframe hours
- 3,075
- Engine
- Lycoming O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John C. Connors
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 13, 1998 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- LEE
- Airport
- LEE · Leesburg Municipal
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
- 370 total · 15 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ORL, 30 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.