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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 26, 1993 · Piper PA-24-260 · N8992P

Niagara Falls, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 26, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Location
Niagara Falls, NY
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-260
Tail Number
N8992P
Operator
L & L Aviation
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
BFO93LA186

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, AND RETURNED TO THE OFFICE TO PAY HIS TIE-DOWN FEES FOR THE THREE DAYS. ON HIS RETURN, HE STATED THAT HE STARTED THE ENGINE, CONTACTED GROUND CONTROL FOR TAXI INSTRUCTIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO TAXI AS THE NOSEWHEEL CHOCK WAS STILL IN PLACE. HIS WIFE, A NON-PILOT, VOLUNTEERED TO REMOVE THE CHOCK. HE STATED THAT SHE EXITED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT AND WALKED IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT WING WHERE SHE TRIED TO REMOVE THE CHOCK FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NOSE GEAR AFT OF THE PROPELLER. SHE WAS STRUCK BY THE PROPELLER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HEARD AND FELT A SLIGHT THUD IN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPELLER, SO HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND EXITED THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW STARTING PROCEDURES AND HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY NOT REMOVING THE WHEEL CHOCKS AND THE PASSENGER NOT MAINTAINING CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER.

Full Narrative

On Sunday, September 26, 1993, at 1658 eastern daylight time, N8992P, a Piper PA-24-260, operated by L & L Aviation Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and piloted by Raymond Grvybowski of Clarksburg, Maryland, struck his passenger with the propeller at Niagara Falls International Airport, Niagara Falls, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured; however, the passenger was fatally injured. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR 91 and the intended destination was Westminster, Maryland. According to the pilot, he had completed his preflight inspection, and returned to the office to pay his tie-down fees for the three days. On his return, he stated that he started the engine, and contacted ground control for clearance to taxi. He stated that the aircraft would not move forward and his wife, a non-pilot, volunteered to remove the nosewheel chock. The wife exited the airplane to the right, walked around the right wing and tried to remove the chocks from the right side of the nose gear aft of the propeller. She was struck by the propeller. The pilot stated that he heard and felt a slight thud in the vicinity of the propeller, so he shut the engine down and exited the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:58 EDT
Nearest AirportNiagara Falls Intl (0nm)
Runway24
Runway Length3973 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-260
Tail NumberN8992P
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorL & L Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured, 1 unknown outcome)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 45 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 18 kt, gusting 24 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 52
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data