Richmond International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Richmond, Virginia 23250
Friday, March 14, 2003 23:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and the passenger conducted a preflight inspection, and boarded the airplane for a night departure. After starting the engine, the pilot noticed that the left main landing gear wheel chock had not been removed. He asked the passenger if he could go behind the airplane and pull it away. Before the passenger exited the airplane, the pilot repeated to him, "go to the back of the airplane, do not go to the front." After the passenger exited the airplane, the pilot saw him step toward the front, and screamed, "no, stop," but the passenger was struck by the moving propeller. The passenger subsequently tested positive for marijuana.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The passenger's failure to remain clear of the propeller. Factors included the passenger's recent use of marijuana, the pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection, and the night lighting conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2345
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Richmond
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23250
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 373018N
Event Location Longitude 0771910W
Event Location Airport Richmond International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RIC
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 167
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2354 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 167
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) -2088
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13837
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 109
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2003 8:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Richmond

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1444V
NTSB Number IAD03LA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model R172K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number R1722192
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Aug 3 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 1650
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Todd H Emeigh
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Seaford
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19973
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RIC
Departure City Richmond
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2345
Departure Time Zone TW
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code N06
Destination City Laurel
Destination State DE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - engine(s) operating
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2003 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --