Beech A36 N4153Q accident near Las Vegas, Nevada

Probable cause

The passenger's failure to maintain clearance from a turning propeller. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.

NTSB analysis

The passenger reported that after loading the baggage, she and the pilot got into the airplane and the pilot attempted to start the engine. According to the passenger, the engine would not start and described it as running rough. When the engine finally started, the pilot attempted to move the airplane forward but realized the wheel chocks were still securing it. The passenger offered to help and exited the airplane. Without receiving instruction, she crawled under the right wing and forward to the right side of the nose of the airplane. As she leaned in to remove the chocks, the propeller struck her. After a Federal Aviation Administration inspector described a preflight inspection to the passenger, she stated that she could not recall seeing the pilot ever perform this action. The pilot reported that after he realized the chocks were still securing the airplane he did not want to shut down the engine due to the high outside air temperature. In the recommendation section of the National Transportation Safety Board 6120.1 form, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by not allowing the passenger to exit the airplane while the engine was running.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10LA352 for the full record.