Wolstenholme Dennis PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER N161DW

Summary

On 12 December 2024 at about 17:35 local time, a Wolstenholme Dennis PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER registered N161DW was involved in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 December 2024 at 17:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Tullahoma, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Tullahoma Rgnl/Wm Northern Fld (THA)

Coordinates

35.3802, -86.2395

Aircraft

Wolstenholme Dennis PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER

Registration

N161DW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1993

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Fayetteville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA077

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to adequately secure the airplane before hand-propping the engine. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of training in hand-propping procedures.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had just finished fueling the airplane and was trying to start the engine. After several failed attempts to start the engine with the electric starter, the pilot decided to “hand prop” the engine. The pilot subsequently placed standard, low-profile general aviation wheel chocks under the wheels, but did not tie down or otherwise secure the airplane. Additionally, the pilot did not secure anyone to assist him and there was no qualified pilot seated in the airplane during his attempt to start the engine. As soon as the engine started, and the airplane’s wheels rolled over the chocks, and the airplane taxied into a closed hangar door, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings, and damaging the hangar doors. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he had not previously received any formal training for hand propping an airplane, but that a mechanic had shown him how to do it. He was not aware of recommended precautions like having a qualified and trained pilot at the controls or tying the airplane down.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.