# NTSB WPR23LA072: Cessna 441, N253SB, Liberal, KS, December 13, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 13, 2022, 19:00, time zone not recorded
- Place: Liberal, KS · KLBL
- Coordinates: 37.04, -100.96
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0400&lon=-100.9600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Prior to flight: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106480
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106480/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106480
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA072

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, failure to set the parking brake, and his decision to exit the airplane with engines running to remove a wheel chock, resulting in the airplane’s unintended movement and subsequent collision with a hangar.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)
- [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 441, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2076020), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that, he had preflighted the airplane about 2 hours before his intended departure and asked ground crew to reposition the airplane. When the pilot was ready for departure, he reported that he did not do another preflight, but only walked around the nose of the airplane to get to the entrance door. After he started both engines, the airplane would not taxi forward. The pilot reported that he thought that he set the brakes, reduced both engines to an idle power setting, and exited the airplane. The pilot observed a chock on the airplane’s nosewheel, and after he removed the chock, the airplane began to move forward. He attempted to reboard the unoccupied airplane, however, was unable to and the airplane subsequently collided with a hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N253SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N253SB), registered now, S/N 4410258 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 441
- Registry model: [Cessna 441](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-441) (registry code 2076020) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01514, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4410258
- Year built: 1982
- Engines: Garrett TPE331-ION 635 horsepower turbo prop; Garrett TPE331-ION 635 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Lyddon Aero Center, Inc., doing business as Lyddon Aero Center, Inc.
- Registered owner: Sierra Bravo Partnership
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KLBL, Liberal, KS
- Destination: KLBB, Lubbock, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KLBL, Liberal Mid-America Regional
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 7, 2022; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 21,500 total, 500 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 2968.00 inHg
- Observed at: KLBL
- METAR: KLBL 140056Z AUTO 33010KT 10SM CLR M02/M08 A2968

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106480. 9.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15018454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA072_6120flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15061066&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA072_pilot6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15032806&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA072%20Memorandum%20of%20Record%20Roger%20Messenger_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15026273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA072_508-Rel.pdf

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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