N5505W

On January 8, 1996, at 1000 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-160, N5505W, struck a pole at the Decatur Municipal Airport, Decatur, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private owner as a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a planned destination of Fort Worth, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.

On the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot reported that the tail of the airplane was secured with a tiedown chain. Without a person at the controls, the pilot hand propped the airplane. When the engine started, the airplane moved forward, and the "force on the tiedown chain snapped the chain." The airplane pivoted 90 degrees as the pilot maintained pressure on the left wing. After hopping onto the left wing in an attempt to reach the throttle, the pilot realized that the wing "was going to impact the windsock pole" and he jumped from the airplane. The left main wheel struck the pilot. After traveling approximately 300 feet, the airplane came to rest as the wing struck the windsock pole.

On the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot recommended that "a qualified individual [be] in the cockpit when attempting to prop an aircraft."