London-Corbin Aprt-Magee Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

London, Kentucky 40741
Wednesday, November 25, 1998 5:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had started the engine briefly by using the engine's electric starter. The engine stopped, and after several more attempts with the starter, the pilot then attempted to start the airplane's engine by hand-propping. The airplane's brake had been set, but the nose wheel had been chocked from behind only. None of the airplane's wheels were chocked in front. The engine started briefly, and the pilot was struck by the propeller. Following the accident, the nose wheel aft chock was observed resting up against, and behind the nose wheel. The accident occurred during the hours of darkness, on a moist surface, with an outside air temperature of 1 degree Celsius, in a refueling area. The 5,000-hour pilot had been seen hand-propping the airplane on other occasions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate start procedure in which he fail to secure the aircraft from movement during an attempt to handprop the engine.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/25/1998
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 550
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City LONDON
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 40741
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LONDON-CORBIN APRT-MAGEE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LOZ
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 1212
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 549 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LOZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1212
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 1
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 Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1220
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 25 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N244L
NTSB Number NYC99LA027
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 Beech
Aircraft Model C35
Aircraft Series Identifier C35
Aircraft Serial Number D-2747
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM REAMS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 501 WEST 5TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City LONDON
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40741
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LOZ
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BHM
Destination City BIRMINGHAM
Destination State AL
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 --