Probable cause
The pilot’s did not properly secure the airplane prior to rotating the propeller by hand, resulting in inadvertent movement of the airplane and collision with a building.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he could not start the airplane's engine using the electric starter, so he elected to turn the propeller by hand to start the engine (hand-propping). He stated that when the engine started, the airplane's parking brake did not hold and that the airplane began to roll. He was unable to open the door to reduce the throttle setting, and the airplane subsequently struck a building. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the fuselage structure near the firewall, and the engine mount structure.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12CA173 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 25, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hebron, Nebraska
- Nearest airport
- Hebron Municipal Airport (HJH)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-22-135
- N-number
- N1213C
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.