Pilot Debrief

DEHAVILLAND DHC 6 200 near Middletown, OH — 2014-06-01

Final reportCEN14LA272
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Date
2014-06-01
Location
Middletown, OH, USA
Airport
MWO
Aircraft
DEHAVILLAND DHC 6 200
Registration
N223AL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Ground

Probable cause

The skydiving operator employee’s failure to see and avoid the rotating propeller blades when she walked toward the cockpit while the airplane’s engines were running.

NTSB narrative

The skydiving airplane was on a ramp with its engines operating while the pilot waited for passengers to board. The pilot asked an employee of the skydiving operator if he could order something to eat for lunch. The employee responded that she had time to come see the pilot at the airplane because she was expecting a small delay before the next flight. The pilot thought the delay was not long enough to justify shutting down the engines. The pilot observed the employee exit the manifest office and run toward the airplane. The skydiving operator typically flew single-engine airplanes with the propeller located in front of the cockpit; however, the accident airplane was a twin-engine airplane with its propellers located under each wing. The operator's employee subsequently walked into the operating propeller under the airplane's left wing, sustaining fatal injuries.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have shut down engines while waiting for passengers to board.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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