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Atlas / NTSB / MIA94LA009

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event MIA94LA009

1993-10-17 FORT MYERS, Florida, United States Airport · 94FL Serious 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N28930

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5B

Year of manufacture

1978 · 15 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19780831

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A2F244

Registrant of record

MAYER STEVEN T

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

IMPROPER DECISION BY THE OTHER PERSON (PILOT'S MOTHER) TO GO TO THE AIRPLANE, WHILE THE PILOT WAS MAKING CHECKS IN PREPARATION FOR FLIGHT, AND HER FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE HAZARDOUS CONDITION (TURNING PROPELLER).

Factual narrative

On October 17, 1993, about 1645 eastern daylight time, N28930,registered to Kurt B. Waller was involved with a propeller strike on the ground at Pine Shadow Airpark, Fort Myers, Florida, while attempting a 14 CFR 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the intended local flight. The airplane received minor damage, one person on the ground received serious injuries, and the pilot and other two passengers reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time. The pilot stated to local law enforcement officials that during runup before the flight, the pilot's mother walked toward the airplane after the engine was started to give a passenger some food and was struck by the propeller, severing her arm. The pilot did not see her until after she was struck because he was watching instruments during the runup. THE PILOT WAS RUNNING UP THE ENGINE IN PREPARATION FOR A FLIGHT AND HAD HIS VISION CONCENTRATED ON THE ENGINE INSTRUMENTS. DURING THAT TIME, HIS MOTHER WALKED TO THE AIRPLANE AND WAS STRUCK BY THE PROPELLER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_MIA94LA009.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.