Summerville, Sc Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Summerville, South Carolina 29483
Saturday, February 7, 2004 12:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot set the parking brake and attempted to start the airplane by rotating the propeller by hand. The airplane started and moved forward, and the pilot climbed up on the right wing to enter the cockpit but slipped and fell to the ground. The pilot grabbed onto the cabin step and was dragged as he attempted to gain access to the cockpit. When the pilot realized a collision with a parked airplane was imminent, he released his hold on the cabin step. The airplane taxied unmanned and collided with a parked airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate start procedure, which resulted in a run-away airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/7/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1245
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Summerville
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29483
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 330348N
Event Location Longitude 0801646W
Event Location Airport Summerville, SC
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KDYB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 150
Airport Elevation 56
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1256 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 136
Weather Observation Facility ID KCHS
Elevation of weather observation facility 46
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) -261
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16000
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 7 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1412
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2004 7:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Columbia FSDO - 13

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N21266
NTSB Number ATL04LA074
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7916031
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 Oct 21 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 3157
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Johnny R Hoy
Aircraft Owner Street Address 248 Saddlebrooke Road
Aircraft Owner City Lexington
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29072
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 KDYB
Departure City Summerville
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KCAE
Destination City Columbia
Destination State SC
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 Jun 25 2004 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --