Piper PA-28-140 N4487J

Summary

On 3 March 1994 at about 18:30 local time, a Piper PA-28-140 registered N4487J, operated by Thomas L Moore, was involved in an accident near Falls of Rough, Kentucky, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 1994 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Falls of Rough, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Rough River State Park (213)

Coordinates

37.6010, -86.5504

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-140

Registration

N4487J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas L Moore

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

Unk

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC94LA051

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE TIEDOWN AND STARTING PROCEDURE WHICH RESULTED IN A RUNAWAY AIRCRAFT, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A BUILDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS HAND PROPPING THE ENGINE WHEN IT STARTED AND THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TAXIED UNDER ITS OWN POWER AND STRUCK A BUILDING. THE PILOT'S FOUR-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT, WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST TIME ATTEMPTING TO HANDPROP AN ENGINE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE TIED DOWN THE TAIL AND SET THE BRAKES BEFOREHAND. HE TRIED ABOUT 20 TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTED. AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED HE JUMPED ON THE RIGHT WING AND DRAGGED HIS FEET TO SLOW DOWN THE AIRPLANE. THIS SLOWED AND TURNED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD THE BUILDING. THE PILOT STATED THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS IN HAND PROPPING, AND IF A QUALIFIED PILOT IN TYPE AIRCRAFT WAS AT THE CONTROLS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.