N53310

Substantial
Minor

CESSNA 182TS/N: 18281199

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, May 3, 2015
NTSB Number
GAA15CA057
Location
ST MARYS, PA
Event ID
20150503X01951
Coordinates
41.411388, -78.507225
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's decision to rotate the propeller by hand without properly securing the airplane.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
18281199
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
2003
Model / ICAO
182TC182
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
182T

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
LUCENTE MICHAEL A
Address
18180 BLUE EYE LOOP
City
FORT MYERS
State / Zip Code
FL 33913-7987
Country
United States

Analysis

According to the pilot, following preflight inspection he attempted to start the engine with the electrical starter but was unable to get the engine to turn over. He turned the magnetos to the off position and then got out of the airplane to "turn the prop through," but was not attempting to hand prop the engine. When the pilot rotated the propeller by hand, the engine started and the airplane immediately began moving forward. He attempted to enter the airplane but was unable to stop the airplane before it impacted an airport building. A passenger was sitting in the front right seat of the airplane and was able to evacuate the airplane after it collided with a building. The pilot stated that he should have chocked the wheels, but he was not planning on starting the engine.

According to the airport manager who responded within minutes after the accident, he observed the ignition key selected to the left magneto, and then turned the key off during the post-accident emergency response. The airport manager also reported that the throttle was in the full forward position and the mixture was in the full rich position.

During a post-accident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspector found no anomalies with the ignition wiring system or magneto P-leads. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA15CA057