Metcalf Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Millbury, Ohio 43447
Friday, December 1, 1989 16:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

BEFORE THE FLIGHT, A STUDENT PILOT INQUIRED IF HE COULD ACCOMPANY THE PILOT ON THE FLIGHT, AND THE PILOT CONSENTED. THE PILOT ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE AND BEGAN TO START THE ENGINE BY HAND-PROPPING IT. MEANWHILE, THE PASSENGER/STUDENT PILOT BOARDED THE TAYLORCRAFT. THE ENGINE STARTED, THE PLANE BEGAN MOVING FORWARD, AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ARREST ITS MOVEMENT BY GRABBING THE LEFT WING STRUT. THE PLANE THEN PIVOTED AROUND THE PILOT AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED AIRCRAFT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE THROTTLE WAS EASY TO MOVE. THE PILOT AND AN FAA INSPECTOR CONCLUDED THAT THE PASSENGER/STUDENT PILOT MUST HAVE 'BUMPED' THE THROTTLE AS HE ENTERED THE COCKPIT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY SECURE THE AIRCRAFT AND/OR ADEQUATELY BRIEF THE PASSENGER (STUDENT PILOT), AND INADVERTENT BUMPING OF THE THROTTLE BY THE PASSENGER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/1/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MILLBURY
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43447
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport METCALF FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TDZ
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID TOL
Elevation of weather observation facility 684
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 None
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 --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2137
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 1 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1927
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41725
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N43416
NTSB Number CHI90LA038
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 BC12D
Aircraft Series Identifier BC12D
Aircraft Serial Number 7075
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 Unknown
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 JOHNNY J. BROWN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 515 BELTON ST.
Aircraft Owner City HAMLER
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43524
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
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 Taxi
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 --