NTSB Factual Report

On July 14, 2001, at 0900 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8253A, was involved in an accident when the propeller contacted the pilot at the Gladwin Zettel Memorial Airport (GLD), Gladwin, Michigan. The pilot received serious injuries. The pilot rated passenger in the left seat and two other passengers were not injured. The airplane was not damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Traverse City, Michigan, at 0800 edt.

The pilot, who was seated in the right seat, reported they flew to GLD to attend a pancake breakfast. He reported that after landing a flagman directed them to a parking spot where they came to a complete stop. He reported that he knew they were going to need fuel prior to departing so he opened the door and exited the airplane onto the wing to look for a fuel truck. The pilot reported the propeller was still turning when he exited the airplane. He reported, "While standing on the wing of the parked aircraft, I slipped and went forward and threw up my left arm to protect instinctively myself and the result is that I ended up on the ground with a broken left arm and a cut on my left arm."

The pilot rated passenger in the left seat reported, "[The pilot] wanted to get fuel. I suggested we shut the engine down and get fuel after breakfast. [The pilot] pulled the throttle back to a low idle, said leave it running I'll catch that guy (the person that parked us). [The pilot] got out of the plane stepped to the front of the wing apparently slipped. I saw him going off the front of the wing. I immediately pulled the mixture control off, shutting down the engine. [The pilot] was apparently struck by the propeller causing injury to his left arm."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's poor decision to exit the airplane onto the wing while the propeller was running.