- Date
- March 26, 2003, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Medina, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N3964JCessna 150G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030326012949A
- Case key
- 56695
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 follow published procedures while starting the engine, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane.
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 preflighted the airplane, boarded, and engaged the starter. Everything seemed "normal" with the start until the engine started to "race." The airplane "lunged" forward, struck a hangar, and then two parked airplanes before coming to a stop. After the accident, an engine run and brake test was performed. The throttle functioned normally during the engine run, and the brakes were able to hold the airplane in place with the engine operating at full throttle. The aircraft checklist required the brakes to be tested and set prior to the pilot starting the engine.
Factual narrative
On March 26, 2003, about 1545 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150G, N3964J, was substantially damaged on the ground when it impacted a hangar and two parked airplanes at the Medina Municipal Airport (1G5), Medina, Ohio. The certified private pilot was not injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he preflighted the airplane, boarded, and engaged the starter. Everything seemed "normal" with the start until the engine started to "race." The airplane "lunged" forward and the pilot closed the throttle, which was open 1/4 inch for the start. He applied the brakes, but the airplane continued to roll forward towards a hangar. To avoid the hangar, he attempted to turn the airplane to the left, but the right wing contacted the corner of the building, and the airplane spun to the right impacting two parked airplanes. The pilot secured all the systems, and exited. He added that during the accident sequence, he pulled the mixture control in an attempt to secure the engine.
On March 27, 2003, an engine run was performed by a mechanic under the direction of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. According to the mechanic, he started the engine and increased power to 2,000 RPM. He then retarded the throttle to idle, and had the wheel chocks removed. Using the brakes to hold the airplane, the mechanic applied full throttle, and the airplane remained stationary. He then retarded the throttle to idle, secured the engine, and concluded the engine run.
According to the Cessna operating check list, the second item in the Before Starting the Engine section stated, "Brakes - test and set." The fifth item in the Starting the Engine section stated, "Throttle - Open 1/4"."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3964J
- Reported as
- Cessna 150G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15065254
- Airframe hours
- 5,809
- Engine
- Lycoming O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flight Services of Medina
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 25, 2003 · 99.2 hours before
- Departed
- 1G5 · Madina, OH
- Destination
- 1G5
- Airport
- 1G5 · Medina 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
- 79
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- September 10, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 253 total · 4 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- CAK, 15 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.