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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

February 29, 2020 · Piper PA28 151 · N228JS

Wilmington, DE

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 29, 2020
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Wilmington, DE
Aircraft
Piper PA28 151 (1974)
Tail Number
N228JS
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
ERA20CA117

A witness reported seeing the pilot walking around his airplane while his son sat inside it. The witness then saw the pilot laying unresponsive on the ground in front of the engine. According to the police report, the pilot sustained a serious head wound, and blood spatter was observed on the propeller. The report also stated that, after the pilot was taken to the hospital, the power and fuel had to be turned off and that the airplane had to be tied down.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot being struck in the head by the propeller before flight, which resulted in a serious injury.

Full Narrative

A witness observed the pilot walking around his airplane while his 11-year-old son sat inside the aircraft. The next thing the witness observed was the pilot laying unresponsive in front of the engine and the son screaming on the phone to 911. The son was trying to describe his location, so the witness called ground control on his airplane's radio, who in turn dispatched rescue personnel. According to the police report, the pilot sustained a serious head wound and blood spatter was observed on the propeller. The report also stated that the airplane's power and fuel had to be turned off and the airplane tied down after the pilot was taken to the hospital. According to the pilot's wife, her husband and son were planning to depart on a cross country flight before the accident occurred.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:25 EST
Nearest AirportNew Castle (0nm S)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA28 151
Tail NumberN228JS
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 SERIES · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 50 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 15 kt, gusting 23 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point32 C / 10 C
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Observation Time18:51
Weather SourceWFAC

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Appendix: Source Data