NTSB NYC91LA065 — 1991-01-23 · CELINA, Ohio, United States

Current FAA registration · N8385S

Make / Model: PIPER PA-32-301
Year of manufacture: 1981 · 10 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines: 7 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19810324
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AB792A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8385S Piper PA-32-301 None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF THE POWERPLANT CONTROLS, MAGNETOS AND BRAKES.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE AIRPLANE ENGINE WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. HE EXITED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE, TURNING THE MAGNETOS OFF, AND ENSURING THE THROTTLE WAS IN THE IDLE POSITION. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE PROPELLER BY HAND AND THE ENGINE STARTED. THE AIRPLANE MOVED FORWARD UNATTENDED, CROSSED A TAXIWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A HANGAR AND A PARKED AIRPLANE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_NYC91LA065.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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