NTSB CHI91LA127 — 1991-04-06 · WEST BRANCH, Michigan, United States

Current FAA registration · N3072H

Make / Model: PIPER PA-28-181
Year of manufacture: 1978 · 13 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19781213
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A33BF9

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N3072H Piper PA-28-181 Serious

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW RECOMMEDED STARTING PROCEDURES/DIRECTIVES AND PRECAUTIONS.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO START THE AIRPLANE ENGINE NORMALLY, SO HE ATTEMPTED TO HAND-PROP START THE ENGINE. THE TWO NON-PILOT RELATED PASSENGERS OBSERVED THE PILOT AS HE TURNED THE PROPELLER THROUGH THREE TO FOUR TIMES ON ONE SIDE, THEN WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE. THEY STOPPED WATCHING FOR A MOMENT, AND WHEN THEY LOOKED BACK THE PILOT WAS ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT HAD BEEN STRUCK IN THE HEAD BY THE PROPELLER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_CHI91LA127.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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