Cessna 152 N45994

Summary

On 16 November 2008 at about 01:50 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N45994, operated by Sierra Academy, was involved in an accident near Atwater, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 November 2008 at 01:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Atwater, California, United States

Nearest airport

Atwater/Castle (KMER)

Coordinates

37.3803, -120.5681

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N45994

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sierra Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Visalia → Atwater

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR09LA040

1 person died.

The second pilot's failure to see and avoid the rotating propeller after exiting the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

At the completion of the final leg of a cross-country flight, the two student pilots taxied the airplane toward the ramp. Prior to reaching the parking area, the student pilot seated in the right seat, concerned about being seen by flight school personnel, instructed the other student pilot to taxi the airplane to the designated parking area, where he would exit the airplane. The student pilot seated in the left seat reported that after the student pilot seated in the right seat exited the airplane, he ran toward the front of the airplane and was struck by the turning propeller.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.