Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Panama City, Florida 32405
Saturday, July 25, 1992 7:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THE STARTER MOTOR WOULD RUN BUT NOT TURN ENGINE. HE WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER PILOT THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS HE SHOULD EXIT THE AIRCRAFT AND REPOSITION THE PROPELLER. HE TURNED OFF THE MAGNETOS AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. AS HE TURNED THE PROPELLER, IT ROTATED AROUND DUE TO ENGINE COMPRESSION AND STRUCK HIM ON THE FOREHEAD. HE LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL BACKWARD, AT WHICH TIME HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE RAMP, CAUSING A SKULL FRACTURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO STAND CLEAR OF THE PROPELLER AS HE ROTATED IT BY HAND, RESULTING IN THE PROPELLER ROTATING AROUND DUE TO ENGINE COMPRESSION, STRIKING THE PILOT, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE HIS BALANCE AND FALL TO THE RAMP, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 710
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PANAMA CITY
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32405
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 648 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID PFN
Elevation of weather observation facility 21
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
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 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2199
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46971
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:05PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N733MX
NTSB Number MIA92LA152
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17268406
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 30 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 27
Airframe Hours 2272
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOWELL AVIATION COMPANY, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3469 AIRPORT DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City PANAMA CITY
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32042
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BAY AERO CENTER, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1000 JACKSON WAY
Operator City PANAMA CITY
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32405
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 PFN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HSV
Destination City HUNTSVILLE
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 10:35AM
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 --