Lancaster Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lancaster, Texas 75146
Saturday, February 10, 2007 19:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot reported that the single-engine airplane was parked on the ramp with the engine idling when a female taking pictures of the pilot and passengers inadvertently walked into the turning propeller. The pilot reported in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that after conducting a local area flight, he landed and taxied the airplane to the ramp. He parked the airplane parallel to the terminal building and kept the engine running. A female observer walked from the terminal building to the left, rear side of the airplane to photograph the passengers in the back seat. She then proceeded to the front of the aircraft where she was struck by the idling propeller. There was no damage to the airplane and the pilot and three passengers were not injured. The female that walked into the propeller sustained serious injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the mishap.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The spectator's inadvertent contact with the turning propeller while the airplane was standing with the engine operating. A contributing factor was the dark night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/10/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Lancaster
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75146
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 323445N
Event Location Longitude 0964308W
Event Location Airport Lancaster
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KLNC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 501
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1900 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KLNC
Elevation of weather observation facility 501
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 3200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries 1
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21374
NTSB Notification Source DAL FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Feb 12 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2007 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dallas, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N124SJ
NTSB Number DFW07CA069
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17280225
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Nov 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2263.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lancaster Airport Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 551
Aircraft Owner City Lancaster
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75146
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. Box 551
Operator City Lancaster
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 75146
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 KLNC
Departure City Lancaster
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KLNC
Destination City Lancaster
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - engine(s) operating
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 5 2007 3:22PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --