NTSB CEN23LA186 — 2023-05-06 · Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States

Current FAA registration · N2294L

Make / Model: BEECH F33A
Year of manufacture: 1976 · 47 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines: 5 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19761007
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A2055F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N2294L Beech F33A Serious

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to remove the wheel chocks before engine start which resulted in the inadvertent contact with the propeller while the engine was running.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that after he started the airplane engine, he realized that the wheel chocks were still in place on the nose landing gear tire. He set the parking brake and exited the airplane with the engine still running. As the pilot removed the chocks, they inadvertently hit the propeller and pulled his arm into the propeller arc. The pilot sustained a serious injury to his right arm. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Unnecessary action-Pilot
— Personnel issues-Psychological-Personality/attitude-Complacency-Pilot
— Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_CEN23LA186.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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