MIA98LA119

Factual narrative

On April 3, 1998, about 1015 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N4594F, registered to The 181 Corporation, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted with a vehicle and hangar during engine start near Charlotte, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot in the airplane was not injured. Another private-rated pilot outside the airplane was seriously injured when he was struck by the propeller. The flight was originating at the time. The pilots were planning to fly to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They untied the airplane and pulled it out of the shadeport to the tarmac between the hangars, and completed a preflight on the airplane. Pilot "A" got into the left seat and pilot "B" into the right seat. They secured the doors, fastened their seat belts, and attempted to start the engine, but could not sustain a start. Pilot "A" suggested to pilot "B" that he "back rotate the prop" a few times. Pilot "B" rotated the propeller counterclockwise once, and told pilot "A" to try and start the engine. As the engine was turning over, pilot "B" noted smoke coming from the engine and told the other pilot to abort the start. Pilot "A" then exited the airplane and both pilots agreed to remove the cowling in an attempt to determine the origin of the smoke. Both pilots determined it was not a mechanical problem and pilot "B" volunteered to get into the airplane and attempt to start the engine. According to pilot "B" 's statement, he told pilot "A" to "stay clear of the prop." He sat in the pilot's seat and looked out and saw pilot "A," "...standing to the right of the aircraft clear of the prop." Pilot "B" said he "shouted clear" from the open window on the pilot's side, turned the ignition, and the engine "fired immediately." He then looked to the right after the engine engaged, "saw blood on the wing, and the plane began to race." He said, "...I applied maximum pressure on the toe brakes, but could not stop the plane from moving forward into an open hangar directly in front of the plane. The prop hit a car parked in the hangar and I noticed the right wing bend...fuel start to leak from the tank...the throttle was advanced. I closed the throttle and mixture and the engine finally choked out." Pilot "B" then went to the other pilot, rendered aid and called for medical help. After a preflight, pilot 'A' got into the left seat and pilot 'B' into the right seat and attempted to start the engine, but could not sustain a start. Both pilots exited the airplane and agreed to remove the cowling to determine the problem. Both pilots determined it was not a mechanical problem and pilot 'B' volunteered to get into the airplane and attempt to start the engine. According to pilot 'B''s statement, he told pilot 'A' to 'stay clear of the prop.' He sat in the pilot's seat, looked out and saw pilot 'A' standing to the right of the aircraft, clear of the prop. Pilot 'B' said he 'shouted clear' from the open window on the pilot's side, turned the ignition and the engine 'fired immediately.' He then looked to the right after the engine engaged, saw blood on the wing, and the plane began to race. He said, '...I applied maximum pressure on the toe brakes, but could not stop the plane from moving forward into an open hangar directly in front of the plane. The prop hit a car parked in the hangar and I noticed the right wing bend...fuel start to leak from the tank...the throttle was advanced. I closed the throttle and mixture and the engine finally choked out.' Pilot 'B' then went to the other pilot, rendered aid and called for medical help. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12