Piper PA24 N55UA

Summary

On 26 March 2016 at about 15:00 local time, a Piper PA24 registered N55UA was involved in an accident near Homestead, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 March 2016 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Homestead, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Homestead General Aviation (X51)

Coordinates

25.5058, -80.5531

Aircraft

Piper PA24

Registration

N55UA

Category

Airplane

Year built

1959

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homestead → Homestead

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA162

Nobody was injured.

The pilots decision to hand prop the airplane's engine without securing the airplane, resulting a runaway airplane and collision with a fence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he shut down the engine to reposition the airplane prior to finishing the run-up. Upon attempting to restart the engine, the airplane's battery charge was low and the engine would not start. The pilot further reported that he set the parking brake, and hand propped the engine. The airplane's engine started and the airplane began to move without the pilot on board. The airplane impacted the airport's perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings.   According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.