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Propeller Strike and Fire During Taxi After Chock Removal (N143DD)

San Juan, PR, US

On October 25, 1998, an Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 (registration N143DD) operated by Executive Airlines, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near San Juan, PR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to verify that the parking brake was applied prior to engine start, and the resultant inadvertent movement of the aircraft and collision with the ground power cart once No. 2 was started. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N143DD
Aircraft registered N143DD. Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During ground handling, a ground marshaller's foot was run over by a nose tire after she pulled chocks. The airplane taxied forward, its No. 2 propeller struck the ground power cart, igniting a fire. Three passengers sustained minor injuries during evacuation.

Sequence of Events

The pilot signaled the ground marshaller to disconnect ground power and remove chocks after a normal start of the No. 2 engine. The ground marshaller disconnected the power cord and secured it to the ground power cart. As she pulled the nose wheel chocks, the nose tire ran over her foot.

The airplane then taxied forward, and the No. 2 propeller collided with the ground power cart. The impact ignited a fire in the No. 2 engine, which spread to the ground and under the aircraft.

Evacuation and Response

Without any communications from the cockpit, the flight attendant commanded a passenger emergency evacuation. During the evacuation, three passengers received minor injuries from tripping and falling on the tarmac.

Fire Suppression

The airport fire department arrived and extinguished the fire three minutes after its initiation.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 25 Oct 1998 Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 accident near San Juan, PR?

During ground handling, a ground marshaller's foot was run over by a nose tire after she pulled chocks. The airplane taxied forward, its No. 2 propeller struck the ground power cart, igniting a fire. Three passengers sustained minor injuries during evacuation.

Were there any fatalities in the 25 Oct 1998 Aerospatiale ATR-42-300 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 25 Oct 1998 involved an Aerospatiale ATR-42-300, registration N143DD, operated by Executive Airlines, Inc., at San Juan, PR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to verify that the parking brake was applied prior to engine start, and the resultant inadvertent movement of the aircraft and collision with the ground power cart once No. 2 was started.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X11299. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.