What happened
At 14:15, an aircraft departed from a private airstrip near Lake Vermilion, Minnesota, and subsequently landed on Lake Vermilion. The aircraft was stationary at the time of the accident.
As the pilot was performing shutdown procedures, which included pulling out the fuel mixture and deactivating other onboard equipment, a passenger exited the rear seat of the aircraft. While the engine's propeller was completing its final revolution, the passenger moved into the path of the rotating blades. The individual was struck in the head once by the propeller and sustained 1 fatal injury.
The pilot and two other passengers were not injured during the event.
The pilot noted that the passenger had been excited to meet friends who were approaching the aircraft via snowmobile.