Michael J. Smith Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Beaufort, North Carolina 28516
Monday, May 12, 2003 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that initial attempts to start the airplane were unsuccessful due to a low battery. The pilot primed the engine and opened the throttle approximately 1/4 inch and instructed his passenger to hold the brakes while he hand started the engine. The passenger, a non-pilot, was pressing on the rudder and not the brakes. After the engine started, the airplane began to move and the pilot attempted to board the airplane but failed. The aircraft continued its movement until it struck a parked airplane. The pilot did not report setting the parking brake prior to hand propping the engine. According to the airplane's before starting engine checklist the parking brake should have been set. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to follow the checklist and set the parking brake which resulted in the airplane colliding with a parked airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Beaufort
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28516
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 344401N
Event Location Longitude 0763938W
Event Location Airport MICHAEL J. SMITH FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MRH
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1056 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MRH
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19817
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date May 12 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Greensboro,North Carolina

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1193W
NTSB Number ATL03LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name American General Aircraft
Aircraft Model AG5B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 10072
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 --
Date of Last Inspection Mar 15 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 270
Airframe Hours 270
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bennie Dalton Williams
Aircraft Owner Street Address 160 Wallace Rd
Aircraft Owner City Beaufort
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28516
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MRH
Departure City Beaufort
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HRJ
Destination City Erwin
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - starting engine(s)
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2004 9:43AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --