Cessna 172 N1242C

Summary

On 7 November 2008 at about 00:06 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N1242C, operated by Brett Aviation, was involved in an accident near Frederick, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 November 2008 at 00:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Frederick, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK)

Coordinates

39.4175, -77.3742

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N1242C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Brett Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Baltimore → Frederick

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

ERA09CA041

1 person was seriously injured.

The passenger’s failure to avoid the rotating propeller after exiting the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to include deplaning procedures as part of the passenger safety briefing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After landing at the airport, the passenger seated in the left seat of the Cessna 172 exited the airplane to notify restaurant staff of her arrival. As she walked toward the front of the airplane, the passenger stated she did not see the rotating propeller and "walked into it." In a statement taken by local police immediately following the accident, the pilot reported he asked the passenger to get out of the airplane and go into the restaurant to find out where the airplane could be parked. In a subsequent written statement provided to the Safety Board, the pilot stated the passenger exited the airplane without his knowledge, while he was shutting down the engine. The passenger was not available to answer subsequent questions regarding what, if any, briefing was given to the passenger by the pilot, pertaining to procedures for exiting the airplane. During an interview, the pilot stated that prior to the flight he had not briefed the passenger on procedures for exiting the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.