On September 6, 2002, a Cessna 120 (registration N2601N) was involved in an aviation accident near Brookfield, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The inadequate visual outlook by the pilot during taxi. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane taxiing for takeoff struck a grounds keeper with its propeller. The pilot reported S-turning and seeing no obstacles before hearing a noise and noticing a weedwhacker rising.
Incident Details
A grounds keeper was struck by an airplane propeller during taxi operations. The pilot reported that the airplane was being taxied for takeoff when the incident occurred. According to the pilot, he was taxiing to the west and performing "S" turns. He stated that he saw no obstacles during the maneuver.
The pilot said he then heard a noise and observed a "weedwhacker rise upward at right corner of windshield." He shut the aircraft down and subsequently found the grounds keeper injured and lying on the ground. The grounds keeper had been struck by the airplane propeller.
No further details were provided regarding the circumstances leading to the collision or the condition of the grounds keeper beyond the reported injury.