Smyrna Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Smyrna, Tennessee 37167
Friday, March 10, 1995 10:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS 'HAND PROPPING' THE ENGINE DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE STARTER SOLENOID. HIS STUDENT WAS IN THE LEFT COCKPIT SEAT, WORKING THE ENGINE CONTROLS. THE FIRST START ATTEMPT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE INSTRUCTOR POSITIONED THE PROP FOR THE SECOND ATTEMPT, AND THE ENGINE FIRED. NO HAND SIGNALS WERE GIVEN PRIOR TO THE SECOND START ATTEMPT. THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE INSTRUCTOR'S ARM AND LEG, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES. THE INSTRUCTOR BELIEVES THAT THE STUDENT DID NOT RETURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AFTER THE FIRST START ATTEMPT, CONTRARY TO WHAT WAS BRIEFED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT ENERGIZED PRIOR TO POSITIONING THE PROPELLER, AND THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO PLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION AFTER THE FIRST START ATTEMPT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/10/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1020
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SMYRNA
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37167
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SMYRNA AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MQY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 543
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1020 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 148
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 17 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4383Q
NTSB Number ATL95LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172L
Aircraft Series Identifier 172L
Aircraft Serial Number 17260283
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 8 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 3066
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BOSHIER, GEOFFREY C.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 511 MAPLEWOOD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City GREENBRIER
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37073
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MQY
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 10:30AM
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 --