- Date
- September 17, 2006, 13:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place
- Mount Holly, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N6319ZPiper PA-25-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Philadelphia, PA
- FAA report
- 20060917022659A
- Case key
- 64586
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 improper starting procedure, which resulted in an uncontrolled taxi, and collision with a parked 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
After loading his equipment bag in the front seat of the airplane, the pilot pressed on each wing lift strut to verify that the brakes were set and then attempted to hand start the engine. He was able to start the engine, however; it "immediately came to full power." He then attempted to reach the cockpit, but was unable. The airplane moved forward, and struck a parked airplane. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. The pilot believed that when he placed his bag in the airplane, it may have "pushed the throttle forward." According to FAA publication FAA-P-8740-20, "No one should attempt to start an aircraft engine without a qualified person at the cockpit controls."
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, after loading his equipment bag in the front of the Piper PA-25-180, he pressed on each wing lift strut to verify that the brakes were set and then attempted to hand start the engine. He was able to start the engine, however; it "immediately came to full power." He then attempted to reach the cockpit, but was unable. The airplane moved forward, and struck a parked airplane. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. The pilot believed that when he placed his bag in the airplane, it may have "pushed the throttle forward." According to FAA publication FAA-P-8740-20, "No one should attempt to start an aircraft engine without a qualified person at the cockpit controls."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6319Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-412
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner tow · Part 91
- Registered owner
- General Aerial Advertising Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- VAY · Mount Holly, NJ
- Destination
- 1N4 · Woodbine, NJ
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
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Flight hours
- 9,800 total · 6,800 in this make and model · 400 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- VAY
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.