Piper PA-28-161 N21266

Summary

On 7 February 2004 at about 17:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-161 registered N21266 was involved in an accident near Summerville, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 February 2004 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Summerville, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Summerville, SC (KDYB)

Coordinates

33.0633, -80.2794

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-161

Registration

N21266

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Summerville → Columbia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04LA074

1 person had minor injuries.

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

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.