SEA99LA062
1999-05-16 · OMAK, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed
Airport OMK
Current FAA registration · N73040
- Make / Model
- CESSNA 172M
- Year of manufacture
- 1976 · 23 years old at event
- Engine
- LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
- Seats / Engines
- 4 seats · 1 engine
- Last airworthiness date
- 19760511
- ADS-B equipped
- Yes — Mode-S A9CE08
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to properly secure the aircraft before hand-propping.
Factual narrative
On May 16, 1999 about 1000 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N73040, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a hanger at Omak Airport, Omak, Washington. The pilot was not injured and there was no report of a fire or activation of the aircraft's ELT. Because of a low battery situation, the pilot elected to hand-prop the airplane. The pilot stated he set the aircraft's parking brake and proceeded to start the engine. Once started, the aircraft rolled approximately 100 feet across the tarmac and collided with a hanger. The pilot was unable to gain access to the aircraft before it collided with the hanger. He stated the aircraft's parking brake was not completely set and the aircraft was not chocked. Because of a low battery situation, the pilot elected to hand-prop the airplane. Once started, the aircraft rolled approximately 100 feet across the tarmac and collided with a hangar. The pilot was unable to gain access to the aircraft before it collided with the hangar. The aircraft's parking brake was not properly set and the wheels were not chocked. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1999_SEA99LA062.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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