Piper J5A N38234

Summary

On 29 September 2007 at about 16:56 local time, a Piper J5A registered N38234, operated by Art L. Delano, was involved in an accident near Turlock, California, United States. One person was on board and one 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

29 September 2007 at 16:56

Classification

Accident

Location

Turlock, California, United States

Nearest airport

Turlock Municipal (O15)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper J5A

Registration

N38234

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Art L. Delano

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Turlock → Oakdale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX07CA282

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to properly and adequately tie down the airplane during the engine start operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot turned off the fuel selector prior to starting the engine and he forgot to turn it back on during taxi for takeoff. The engine lost all power and stopped. The airplane was not equipped with a starter. When the pilot hand propped the engine for a restart the airplane was not securely tied down, and the throttle was not at idle. The engine started and revved up. The pilot attempted to restrain the airplane by holding on to it, and he was injured in that endeavor. The unoccupied airplane became airborne and climbed about 200 feet above the ground. Thereafter, it banked right and descended into a corn field next to the airport.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.