# NTSB SEA05CA079: Cessna 150, N7771E, Independence, OR, April 9, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 9, 2005, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Independence, OR
- Coordinates: 44.866664, -123.198333
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8667&lon=-123.1983&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Portland, OR
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61277/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA079

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to secure the airplane while starting the engine by hand-propping.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - starting engine(s)
  - starting procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - aircraft parked/standing

## Analysis

The pilot was hand-propping the airplane to start it, and it taxied away with him hanging onto the left wing strut.  The airplane subsequently impacted two other parked airplanes.  The accident airplane's right wing spar and strut were bent.

## Factual narrative

On April 9, 2005, at approximately 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150, N7771E, was substantially damaged when the pilot hand propped the airplane and it taxied without him into two other parked aircraft at Independence State Airport, Independence, Oregon.  The private pilot, who was hanging onto the airplane's strut, received minor injuries.  The airplane was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, proposed, local flight.  No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot said that the airplane had not been flown for awhile.  He hand-propped the airplane to start it, and it taxied away with him hanging onto the left wing strut.  The airplane subsequently impacted two other parked airplanes.  The accident airplane's right wing spar and strut were bent.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7771E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7771E), registered now, S/N 17571, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17571
- Airframe hours: 5138
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas E. Mishler
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2004, 15 hours before
- Departed: 7S5, Independence, OR
- Destination: 7S5
- Airport: 7S5, Independence State Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; flight hours: 260 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observed at: SLE, 9 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20050409005089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050409005089A), Apr 9, 2005: Cessna 150, Independence, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] hand propped N7771E, C-150, for the purpose of departing 7S5 to fly to mmv. When the engine started, the aircraft…

## Other investigations on N7771E (2)

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.

- [NTSB LAX70DUG39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX70DUG39), May 30, 1970: Cessna 150C (N7771E), Joshua Tree, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK65X0532](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0532), Nov 2, 1964: Cessna 150 (N7771E), Hawthorne, CA, substantial damage

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.

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