NTSB LAX85LA260 — 1985-05-25 · BAKERSFIELD, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N1401D

Make / Model: CESSNA 170A
Year of manufacture: 1951 · 34 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES (145 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19570423
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A0A52F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N1401D Cessna 170A None

Factual narrative

THE PLT PLACED THE IGNITION KEY ON THE ACFT'S DASHBOARD & THEN PROCEEDED TO TURN OVER THE PROP BY HAND. ACFT WAS NOT TIED DOWN OR CHOCKED & THE ENG STARTED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RESTRAIN THE RUNAWAY ACFT. AFTER BEING DRAGGED FOR SEVERAL YDS, THE PLT LET LOOSE. THE ACFT TRAVELLED FOR 50 TO 60 FT & COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR. EXAM OF THE ACFT'S IGNITION SWITCH DISCLOSED THAT IT WAS WORN & SET TO THE RIGHT MAGNETO 'ON' POSITION. DURING THE PLT'S PREFLIGHT INSPECTION HE FAILED TO DETECT THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED WITHOUT FIRST TURNING THE SWITCH TO THE 'OFF' POSITION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1985_LAX85LA260.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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