Accident Overview
On October 16, 2022, about 2235 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172S, N2476Y, was not damaged when it was involved in an accident in Statesboro, Georgia. The pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and one passenger were not injured; one passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Flight Sequence
On the day of the accident, both the pilot and pilot-rated passenger departed from Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV), Brooksville, Florida, around 1504 and arrived at Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport (TBR), Statesboro, Georgia, around 1728. After loading two passengers, they departed for Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) at 1829 and arrived at SAV about 1852. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger (who was the pilot’s brother) had rented the airplane from the flight school in which they both were enrolled. The purpose of the flights was to build flight time and to fly a friend and his dinner date from TBR to SAV. After arriving in SAV, the pilot and pilot-rated passenger ate while waiting for their friend and his date to return. Upon their return, they loaded the passengers into the rear seats and departed SAV around 2210.
Passenger Egress and Propeller Strike
According to the pilot, after taxiing to the ramp, their friend and his date exited the airplane and were rushing to a waiting ride. Their friend exited forward, toward the engine, and his date exited toward the tail. The pilot stated that he was busy following the checklist to turn off the airplane and that the two passengers exited without him knowing. The power was at idle, and before he could shut off the mixture control their friend was struck by the propeller. According to the pilot-rated passenger, while the pilot was trying to shut down the engine, the passengers exited and their friend ran into the propeller and fell down in front of the airplane. He and the pilot lifted him and carried him off the ramp. According to the surviving passenger, she exited the left side, and her date exited the right side. No instructions were given to them as they exited. She could hear that the propeller was turning as she walked away.
Toxicology and Cause of Death
Toxicological testing of the fatally injured passenger by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute detected no ethanol, drugs of abuse, or carboxyhemoglobin. The Office of the Bulloch County Coroner determined the cause of death was cerebral lacerations to the head, and the manner of death was accident. No autopsy was performed.
Aircraft Design and Guidance
Review of the airplane’s Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) indicated that entry and exit were through either of two entry doors at the front seat positions. The doors incorporated recessed exterior handles, conventional interior handles, a key-operated lock (left only), door stop mechanism, and openable windows. Exit was accomplished by rotating the door handle from the “LOCK” position past “CLOSE” to “OPEN” and pushing the door open. No checklist or procedure was discovered that required opening doors before engine shutdown. Review of photographs indicated that both door handles were located about 3 feet forward of the rear seating position, near the front of each door, and were not accessible to rear passengers without reaching around the front seats and pilots.
The Textron Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements noted that propeller accidents are mostly preventable and that a propeller even at idle has sufficient force to inflict fatal injuries. The Airplane Flying Handbook stated that pilots should ensure passenger safety by cautioning them to move only as directed. The Propwatcher’s Guide emphasized briefing passengers on safe routes, stressing propeller danger, and shutting down engines before loading or unloading.