What happened
On 11 December 1999, a Piper PA-28-161, registration G-BOHO, arrived at Manchester Airport following a private flight from Cambridge. Upon landing at 1931 hrs, the pilot was directed to a designated parking area. The conditions at the time were dark, and the airfield surface was damp from recent rainfall.
As the pilot taxied toward the parking spot, they observed a marshaller equipped with a fluorescent coat and illuminated batons. While maneuvering near a hangar, the pilot performed a 9/0-degree left turn. During this process, the right wingtip of the aircraft made contact with a hangar door, causing minor damage to the paintwork and propeller. The pilot immediately halted the aircraft and signaled to the marshaller that the plane had come to a stop.
Following the collision with the hangar, the pilot began engine shutdown procedures. The marshaller, believing the pilot's hand gesture was an invitation to approach the cockpit, moved toward the left window. After a brief conversation regarding the wingtip contact, the marshaller turned to walk away. During this movement, the sleeve of the marshaller's coat caught in the rotating propeller, pulling the individual toward the engine. The marshaller was thrown to the ground, sustaining body abrasions and serious injuries to the right hand.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the sequence of events following the contact between the aircraft and the hangar. Investigators reviewed the pilot's actions, the visibility conditions, and the interaction between the crew and the ground staff. The investigation also considered the movement of the marshaller in relation to the active propeller during the shutdown phase.