Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Syracuse, New York 13210
Monday, May 6, 1996 21:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After leveling the airplane at 6000 feet msl, the pilot noticed that the upper half of the clamshell cockpit door had become ajar, and the door unsafe light illuminated. The pilot attempted to secure the door, but it separated from the aircraft. During the occurrence, the pilot's left hand was seriously injured. He was not certain of how the injury occurred, but he believed that his left hand had contacted the left engine propeller blades. He wrapped his hand in a flight jacket and made an emergency landing, where he received medical attention. Attempts to recover the upper half of the clamshell door for further examination were unsuccessful.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to ensure that his hand would remain clear of the propeller, while attempting to take remedial action to secure the clam shell door. The unlatching and separation of the clam shell door from the aircraft were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2145
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SYRACUSE
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13210
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2151 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
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 --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 675
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 6 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1756
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N222KD
NTSB Number IAD96LA072
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-60-600
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-60-600
Aircraft Serial Number 60-0557-181
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NEW CREATIONS, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3939 INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43219
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 BSYA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code UCA
Departure City UTICA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 2135
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BUF
Destination City BUFFALO
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --