Plane Stupid 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Here is the summary text from the NTSB about a pilot who wasn't smart enough to stay away from his plane's propeller (see end of submission for URL's):
NTSB Identification: MIA98LA119 . The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System.
Accident occurred Friday, April 03, 1998 at CHARLOTTE, NC
Aircraft:Piper PA-28-181, registration: N4594F
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Uninjured.
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.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
the pilot's failure to follow proper starting procedures.
URL of summary quoted in full above:
http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=20001211X09906&key=1
URL of full story (also available linked from bottom of above URL page)
http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief2.asp?ev_id=20001211X09906&ntsbno=MIA98LA119&akey=1
This story appeared as "unconfirmed" on the now-defunct "officialDarwinAwards.com" site entitled as "The Plane! The Plane!" Submitted on 01/24/02
Submitted by:
Alan Franzman
Reference:
NTSB, April 3, 1998
Copyright © 2002 DarwinAwards.com
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