No fatalities

Airplane Collides with Hangar During Engine Start

Benton Harbor, MI, United States

On October 2, 2013, a PIPER PA 28-180 180 was involved in an aviation accident near Benton Harbor, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during engine start. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane impacted a hangar at an airport after the pilot lost control during an engine start. A ground worker was slightly injured, and the pilot attributed the incident to pilot error.

Incident Overview During an engine start, the pilot applied full throttle. Following the start, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently collided with a hangar at the airport. A ground worker sustained minor injuries in the collision. The pilot reported that the accident was caused by pilot error and stated that the airplane had no mechanical issues. The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or location beyond the airport setting. No probable cause is officially stated in the source beyond the pilot's report of pilot error and absence of mechanical issues.

Contributing factors

Pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Oct 2013 PIPER PA 28-180 180 accident near Benton Harbor, MI?

An airplane impacted a hangar at an airport after the pilot lost control during an engine start. A ground worker was slightly injured, and the pilot attributed the incident to pilot error.

Were there any fatalities in the 2 Oct 2013 PIPER PA 28-180 180 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Oct 2013 involved a PIPER PA 28-180 180, at Benton Harbor, MI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during engine start.