Charlotte County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Punta Gorda, Florida 33901
Tuesady, August 30, 1994 9:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT MADE A DECISION TO HAND PROP THE AIRPLANE TO START THE ENGINE WITHOUT TIEDOWNS, CHOCKS, OR BRAKES. A PASSERBY STATED THAT HE WOULD HOLD THE TAIL. THE PILOT HAND PROPPED THE ENGINE AND IT STARTED. THE PASSERBY THEN LET GO OF THE TAIL. THE PILOT, THE PASSERBY AND ANOTHER PERSON ALL ATTEMPTED TO GRAB THE AIRPLANE AND ALL RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A HANGAR AND A CAR AND CAME TO REST.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO TIEDOWN THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING AN ENGINE START BY HAND PROPPING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S COMPLACENCY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/30/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 940
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City PUNTA GORDA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33901
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PGD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 25
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 938 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID FMY
Elevation of weather observation facility 24
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 2
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1283
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 30 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1115
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:02PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39283
NTSB Number MIA94LA202
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name TAYLORCRAFT
Aircraft Model BC-12-D
Aircraft Series Identifier BC-12-D
Aircraft Serial Number 6537
Certified Max Gross Weight 820
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EZ FLYING CLUB INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 484
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19899
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HAROLD O. PRESTON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 229 CAVILLER STREET
Operator City N. FORT MYERS
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33917
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 940
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --