- Date
- March 20, 2011, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Stockton, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N9040TCessna 182C
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground handling event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 20, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110320003619A
- Case key
- 78600
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 secure the airplane before pulling the propeller to start the engine.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot said he had tried to start the airplane's engine, but the battery seemed weak. He decided to pull the propeller by hand a revolution or two to get more oil/lubricant to the cylinders, rings, and valve stems. He explained to his non-pilot passenger that he was not going to start the engine, but mechanically lubricate it for an easier start. He stated that he turned the master off, and he believed that he turned the magnetos off. He did not set the parking brake or block the tires. After the propeller was turned 1 to 1.5 revolutions, the engine started. The airplane lurched forward and the pilot was unable to get into it. The airplane crossed a taxiway and a runway before it encountered soft earth and nosed over. The engine was pushed aft, wrinkling the fuselage, the right wing lift strut was bent, the right wing displayed wrinkles, and the aft section of the fuselage was bent and wrinkled.
Factual narrative
The pilot said he had tried to start the airplane's engine, but the battery seemed weak. He decided to pull the propeller through by hand a revolution or two to get more oil/lubricant to the cylinders, rings, and valve stems. He explained to his non-pilot passenger that he was not going to start the engine, but mechanically lubricate it for an easier start. The pilot stated that he turned the master off, and he believed that he turned the magnetos off. He did not set the parking brake or block the tires. After the propeller was turned 1 to 1.5 revolutions, the engine started. The airplane lurched forward and the pilot was unable to get into it. The airplane crossed a taxiway and a runway before it encountered soft earth and nosed over inverted. The engine was pushed aft, wrinkling the fuselage, the right wing lift strut was bent, the right wing displayed wrinkles, and the aft section of the fuselage was bent and wrinkled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9040T
- Reported as
- Cessna 182C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 52940
- Airframe hours
- 7,951
- Engine
- Continental O-470-L, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mattew R. Stefanac
- Registered owner
- Mattew R. Stefanac
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 11, 2010 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- SCK · Stockton, CA
- Destination
- SCK · Stockton, CA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- SCK · Stockton Metropolitan Airport
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
- 63
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 7, 2010
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total · 500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.54 inHg
- Observed at
- SCK
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 361 KB in all.
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 N9040T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.