Incident Overview
On June 17, 2017, at about 1330 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 65-CA airplane, registration N33778, experienced a propeller blade strike during an attempted hand prop of the engine at Wynkoop Airport (6G4) in Mount Vernon, Ohio. The pilot, the intended sole occupant, was fatally injured, and the airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight.
Sequence of Events
According to information collected by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and an Ohio State Patrol officer, the pilot attempted to start the engine by hand-propping the airplane. A person located at the airport reported that the pilot had arrived earlier and was preparing to depart. The pilot tied the tail of the airplane with a nylon rope he had brought and did not chock the wheels. He experienced difficulties starting the engine.
The witness, who was inside a hangar, heard the airplane start at a high rpm and quickly stepped outside. He saw that the rope had broken, and the airplane was taxiing in circles while the pilot attempted to stop it. The witness joined the pilot in trying to stop the airplane. During these efforts, the propeller struck the pilot, knocking him down. The airplane eventually came to a stop further down the runway.
Aircraft Information
The vintage airplane was not equipped with an electrical system or an electric starter.