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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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NTSB Report

August 25, 1998 · Cessna 172 · N6720A

Sewanee, TN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Location
Sewanee, TN
Aircraft
Cessna 172
Tail Number
N6720A
Operator
William R Lord Jr
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
ATL98LA120

Prior to his departure, the pilot informed his girlfriend of his proposed arrival time at the destination airport. After landing, the pilot proceeded to park the airplane on the ramp. The pilot said, he saw his girlfriend standing on a grassy hill on the airport as he taxied to parking. Before the pilot could complete the engine shut down, his girlfriend had started running to the airplane from the left side and continued to the right side of the airplane in front of the turning propeller. The pilot's girlfriend was struck by the turning propeller. Dark night conditions existed at the time.

NTSB Probable Cause

The inadequate visual lookout by the ground pedestrian. A factor was dark night conditions.

Full Narrative

On August 24, 1998, at 1945 central daylight time, a female pedestrian walked into the turning propeller assembly of a Cessna 172, N6720A, on the parking ramp at the Franklin County Airport in Sewanee, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. According to weather data from the nearest reporting facility, visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was not damaged. The private rated pilot was not injured, however the female pedestrian was seriously injured. The flight departed Cartersville, Georgia, at 1940 eastern daylight time. According to the pilot, prior to his departure from Cartersville, he informed his girlfriend of his proposed arrival time at the Franklin County Airport. As After landing, the pilot proceeded to park the airplane on the ramp. As the pilot taxied to the ramp, he saw his girlfriend standing on a grassy hill on the airport. The pilot parked the airplane, and before he could complete the engine shut down, his girlfriend ran from the left side of the airplane to the right side in front of the turning propeller. The pilot's girlfriend was struck by the turning propeller. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:45 CDT
Nearest AirportFranklin County Airport (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length3300 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172
Tail NumberN6720A
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorWilliam R Lord Jr
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300A · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 22 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind360° @ 7 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time00:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data