- Date
- July 3, 2001, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Plymouth, MA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N3042MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 4, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20010703017039A
- Case key
- 52622
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 failure to ensure the magnetos were off prior to rotating the propeller, which resulted in an unintentional engine start and subsequent unmanned taxi.
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 attempted to start the airplane; however, the starter would not engage. He then exited the airplane and rotated the propeller. During the third rotation, the engine started, and the airplane began to roll forward. The airplane struck a parked, unoccupied aircraft before the pilot was able to shut down the engine. Examination of the airplane's magnetos, P-leads, and ignition switch did not revealed any abnormalities. The starter switch operated correctly; however, the starter motor gear would not thrust forward to engage the engine ring gear. The pilot stated he did not intend to start the airplane when he rotated the propeller, and in retrospect, he felt rushed and "probably forgot" to turn the magnetos to the "off" position, prior to exiting the airplane.
Factual narrative
On July 3, 2001, about 1730 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-12, N3042M, was substantially damaged during an unmanned taxi after engine start at the Plymouth Municipal Airport, (PYM), Plymouth, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWM), Lawrence, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he attempted to start the airplane; however, the starter would not engage. He then exited the airplane and rotated the propeller. During the third rotation, the engine started and the un-chocked airplane began to roll forward.
The airplane struck a parked, unoccupied aircraft before the pilot was able to shut down the engine.
Examination of the airplane's magnetos, P-leads, and ignition switch by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not revealed any abnormalities. It was noted that the starter switch operated correctly; however, the starter motor gear would not thrust forward to engage the engine ring gear.
During a subsequent telephone interview, the pilot stated that he did not intend to start the airplane when he rotated the propeller, and in retrospect, he felt rushed and "probably forgot" to turn the magnetos to the "off" position, prior to exiting the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3042M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1734
- Airframe hours
- 2,231
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Aviad Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 17, 2001 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- PYM · Plymouth, MA
- Destination
- LWM · Lawrence, MA
- Airport
- PYM · Plymouth Muni
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
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 23, 2000
- Flight hours
- 1,200 total · 600 in this make and model · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- PYM
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 N3042M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.