Cessna 182Q N5352N

Summary

On 30 October 1998 at about 07:43 local time, a Cessna 182Q registered N5352N was involved in an accident near Fresno, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 October 1998 at 07:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Fresno, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fresno Chandler (FCH)

Coordinates

36.6410, -119.9106

Aircraft

Cessna 182Q

Registration

N5352N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Watsonville

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX99LA019

1 person died.

The pilot's decision to allow unescorted passengers to approach the aircraft with the engine running, and, the passenger's failure to see and avoid the rotating propeller. A factor in the accident was the low ambient lighting conditions, which would have made the rotating propeller difficult to see.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was waiting in the transient tie down parking ramp near the terminal for his passengers to arrive. They contacted him by cell phone and told him they were in the terminal parking lot and would be there shortly and to start the engine. The pilot said he then got into the airplane, started the engine and turned on the strobes and navigation lights, then waited for the passengers to come. He said he waited an additional 5 to 6 minutes after he saw a group of people near the fence gate which leads to the transient parking area. After looking at the instruments he looked up and saw one of the intended passengers in front of the wing tip walking toward the engine. The passenger walked into the rotating propeller just as the pilot attempted to shut down the engine. The moon was near the western horizon and not visible. The nearest street light standards illuminating the area were 52 and 66 feet away from the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.