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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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March 14, 1988 · Cessna 172B · N7609X

Elizabethton, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
March 14, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Elizabethton, TN
Aircraft
Cessna 172B
Tail Number
N7609X
Operator
Arnold O Hopland
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
ATL88IA113

DUE TO A LOW CHARGE IN THE BATTERY, THE PLT ELECTED TO START THE ENG BY HAND PROPPING, SO HE COULD PROGRAM THE LORAN FOR A LATER FLT. HE BEGAN HAND PROPPING WITH THE TAIL & LEFT WING TIED DOWN. AFTER THE ENG STARTED, THE TIEDOWN FOR THE TAIL PULLED LOOSE & THE ACFT MOVED AROUND THE LEFT WING TIEDOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT A NEARBY FLOATPLANE.

Full Narrative

DUE TO A LOW CHARGE IN THE BATTERY, THE PLT ELECTED TO START THE ENG BY HAND PROPPING, SO HE COULD PROGRAM THE LORAN FOR A LATER FLT. HE BEGAN HAND PROPPING WITH THE TAIL & LEFT WING TIED DOWN. AFTER THE ENG STARTED, THE TIEDOWN FOR THE TAIL PULLED LOOSE & THE ACFT MOVED AROUND THE LEFT WING TIEDOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT A NEARBY FLOATPLANE.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time05:30 EST
Nearest AirportElizabethton Muni (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172B
Tail NumberN7609X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorArnold O Hopland
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 43 · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind240° @ 7 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 19 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time09:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data