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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 21, 1997 · Cessna 421C · N283PT

Pierre, SD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 21, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Pierre, SD
Aircraft
Cessna 421C
Tail Number
N283PT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI97LA109

While discharging a passenger on a wet ramp with brakes set and both engines running, the pilot went aft to shut the main cabin door. As the pilot egressed the cockpit, his left foot struck the number one throttle advancing it to takeoff power which caused the airplane to impact a parked vehicle and chain link fence on the ramp.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inadvertent activation of the number one throttle/power control. Factors were: the pilot left the cockpit unattended with the engines running and a wet ramp.

Full Narrative

On April 21, 1997, at 1200 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 421C, N283PT, registered to Prostrollo Leasing Company, of Madison, South Dakota, received substantially damaged after impacting a chain link fence and a parked vehicle at Pierre Municipal Airport, Pierre, South Dakota. The pilot's left foot struck and advanced the number one engine throttle of the running engines, while the pilot went aft to close the cabin door after discharging a passenger. The airline transport pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. An IFR flight plan was on file. The flight departed Madison, South Dakota, at 1055 cdt. According to the pilot's written statement, he was discharging a passenger with the engines running on the wet ramp area at Pierre Municipal Airport. The pilot set the brakes and then needed to go aft and shut the cabin door. The pilot said "In turning to egress the cockpit, I believe my left foot hit the left throttle #1 eng [engine] went to takeoff power. I was thrown between the two forward passenger seats on my back stunned the aircraft lunged forward struck a fence turning to the right, the right eng [engine] struck a vehicle parked on the ramp side of the fence."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 MDT
Nearest AirportPierre Municipal (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 421C
Tail NumberN283PT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520 · Reciprocating · 375
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 14 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 48
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data