Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 152 near Ann Arbor, MI — 2011-05-25

Final reportCEN11LA368
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Date
2011-05-25
Location
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Airport
ARB
Aircraft
CESSNA 152
Registration
N222UM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Ground

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from the propeller when exiting the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the instructor’s decision not to shut down the engine before exiting the airplane and the operator’s lack of a policy prohibiting any person from entering or exiting an airplane with its engine operating.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor exited the airplane with the engine operating in preparation for a student pilot to perform his second solo flight. The flight instructor was struck by the rotating propeller as she walked toward the front of the airplane. The flight instructor stated that the operator's flight instructors would typically exit and walk toward the back of an airplane when they were going to have student pilots perform their solo flights. However, instead of walking toward the rear, she walked toward the front where her car was parked. After the accident, the operator adopted a policy prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting an airplane with the engine operating.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Flight instructor should have exited towards the rear of the airplane.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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