Palestine Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palenstine, Texas 75801
Sunday, December 28, 2008 16:07 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot and a 6-year old passenger boarded the airplane for a local flight. After a failed attempt to start the engine, the pilot recalled securing the master switch and the magnetos prior to exiting the cockpit to rotate the propeller by hand. While turning the propeller to "limber" the oil, the airplane's engine inadvertently started. As the airplane moved forward, an unknown part of the airplane contacted the pilot causing serious injuries. The airplane, with the passenger still on-board, traversed the airport before colliding with trees. The passenger was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. A responding fire fighter reported turning off the magneto and fuel switches during the initial response.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to ensure security of the cockpit switches before rotating the propeller.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/28/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1607
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Palenstine
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75801
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Palestine Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PSN
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 1549 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 74
Weather Observation Facility ID JSO
Elevation of weather observation facility 677
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.27
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KPSN 282208Z AUTO 17003KT 10SM SCT080 12/M03
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25225
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southwest Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 18 2009 3:07PM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8212F
NTSB Number CEN09LA107
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15064312
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 3164
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FIELDEN VIRGIL A
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 928
Aircraft Owner City FAIRFIELD
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75840-0018
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name FIELDEN VIRGIL A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 928
Operator City FAIRFIELD
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 75840-0018
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City --
Departure State --
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2009 10:13AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --