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Passenger Struck by Propeller While Attempting to Remove Wheel Chocks at Night

Key West, FL, United States

On October 13, 2019, a Cessna 172 S operated by Paragon Flight Training Co was involved in an aviation accident near Key West, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s and the passenger's improper decision to have the passenger attempt to move a wheel chock while the propeller was turning, which resulted in a serious injury. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During a nighttime taxi attempt, the airplane would not move. While the pilot looked for wheel chocks, the passenger exited and tried to remove chocks from the nose wheel, resulting in the passenger's hand being struck by the propeller. No mechanical issues were reported.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during a nighttime preflight inspection, the airplane was started but failed to move forward when taxiing from parking to the runway. The pilot looked out the left window in an attempt to identify wheel chocks, while the passenger exited the right door and checked the right main landing gear for chocks. The passenger then moved to the front of the airplane and attempted to remove chocks from the nose wheel. During this action, the passenger's right hand was struck by the propeller.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

PilotPassengerEffect on operation

Related events

Same aircraft family

  • 24 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172B
  • 23 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
  • 18 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
  • 16 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172M (CK Aviation LLC)
  • 9 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172
  • 8 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N
  • 7 Sep 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Tin Cup Investments INC)
  • 24 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172M
  • 21 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172P (Vascular Wings LLC)
  • 18 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Ocala Aviation Services INC)
  • 16 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172L (Foothill Aircraft Sales and Service Inc.)
  • 9 Aug 2026 — CESSNA 172N (Kimber 123 Holdings LLC)

All Cessna 172 accidents →

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 13 Oct 2019 Cessna 172 S accident near Key West, FL?

During a nighttime taxi attempt, the airplane would not move. While the pilot looked for wheel chocks, the passenger exited and tried to remove chocks from the nose wheel, resulting in the passenger's hand being struck by the propeller. No mechanical issues were reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 13 Oct 2019 Cessna 172 S accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 13 Oct 2019 involved a Cessna 172 S, operated by Paragon Flight Training Co, at Key West, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s and the passenger's improper decision to have the passenger attempt to move a wheel chock while the propeller was turning, which resulted in a serious injury.

More accident analyses