Piper PA-28-181 N8253A

Summary

On 14 July 2001 at about 13:00 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N8253A was involved in an accident near Gladwin, Michigan, United States. 4 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 July 2001 at 13:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gladwin, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Gladwin Settel Memorial (GDW)

Coordinates

43.9796, -84.4892

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N8253A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Traverse City → Gladwin

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01LA268

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's poor decision to exit the airplane onto the wing while the propeller was running.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, reported they flew into the airport to attend a pancake breakfast. He reported that after landing a flagman directed them to a parking spot where they came to a complete stop. He reported that he knew they were going to need fuel prior to departing so he opened the door and exited the airplane onto the wing to look for a fuel truck. The pilot reported the propeller was still turning when he exited the airplane. He reported, "While standing on the wing of the parked aircraft, I slipped and went forward and threw up my left arm to protect instinctively myself and the result is that I ended up on the ground with a broken left arm and a cut on my left arm." The pilot rated passenger in the left seat reported, "[The pilot] wanted to get fuel. I suggested we shut the engine down and get fuel after breakfast. [The pilot] pulled the throttle back to a low idle, said leave it running I'll catch that guy (the person that parked us). [The pilot] got out of the plane stepped to the front of the wing apparently slipped. I saw him going off the front of the wing. I immediately pulled the mixture control off, shutting down the engine. [The pilot] was apparently struck by the propeller causing injury to his left arm."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.