On January 8, 1992, a Cessna 177B (registration N13564) operated by Cleary, Peter J. was involved in an aviation accident near Memphis, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES TO WALK BEHIND THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WERE THE DAWN LIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LIGHT RAIN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A male passenger walked into a spinning propeller after deplaning from a personal flight. The airplane was stationary with the engine running. He refused an umbrella and walked into the propeller.
Overview
A personal flight terminated with a ground incident when a male passenger walked into the propeller of a stationary airplane with its engine running. The aircraft had just completed a flight to the airport to drop off two passengers.
Sequence of Events
After the airplane landed and came to a stop with the engine still running, two passengers exited. One passenger assisted his wife in deplaning. A line person provided an umbrella to the wife, who then proceeded to the terminal. The husband refused an umbrella. According to the pilot and the line person, as the male passenger walked away from the airplane, he walked into the propeller.
No further details were provided regarding injuries or damage.