On August 7, 1994, a Cessna 152 (registration N67334) was involved in an aviation accident near Clearwater, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to remove the left wing tie-down during preflight, which resulted in him walking into the propeller. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot-in-command failed to remove a left wing tie-down during preflight, exited the aircraft, and was struck by the propeller upon turning around.
What happened
The pilot-in-command initiated engine start but realized during the preflight inspection that he had neglected to remove a tie-down strap from the left wing. He reduced the throttle to idle and exited the airplane. After walking to the front of the leading edge of the left wing to remove the restraint, he turned to his left and walked directly into the rotating propeller.
The investigation
The incident involved fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to complete the preflight checklist properly. The aircraft was a Cessna 172S with registration N12345. No mechanical failures were reported prior to the event.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to remove the left wing tie-down during preflight, which resulted in him walking into the propeller.