Piper PA 32R-301 N3559U

Summary

On 21 February 1999 at about 23:25 local time, a Piper PA 32R-301 registered N3559U was involved in an accident near Dulles, Virginia, United States. 6 people were on board. One person on the ground also died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 February 1999 at 23:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Dulles, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Washington Dulles Int (IAD)

Coordinates

38.9900, -77.4604

Aircraft

Piper PA 32R-301

Registration

N3559U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Montgomery

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

NYC99LA063

Injuries not recorded.

The FBO employee's diverted attention, resulting in an inadvertent encounter with a rotating propeller.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A Signature Flight Support Employee was fatally injured when he came in contact with the rotating propeller of an airplane. The airplane was parked, with the engine operating, while the pilot transcribed the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS). The pilot reported that he removed the chock around the main landing gear, and placed the chock around the front landing gear in an 'L' position. Witnesses reported that the employee was focused on the front landing gear as he bent down into the propeller. Co-workers stated that the employee may have been distracted due to several domestic issues. The employee had been with the company for approximately 3 weeks, and had no prior aviation experience. Investigation of Signature Flight Support by state and federal agencies revealed no deficiencies in the training programs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.