Cessna 172L accident near Smyrna, Tennessee, March 10, 1995
On March 10, 1995 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N4383Q, was involved in an accident near Smyrna, Tennessee (Smyrna Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT ENERGIZED PRIOR TO POSITIONING THE PROPELLER, AND THE DUAL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO PLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION AFTER THE FIRST START ATTEMPT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1995 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Smyrna, Tennessee · Smyrna Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4383Q · registry record · serial 17260283
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS 'HAND PROPPING' THE ENGINE DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE STARTER SOLENOID. HIS STUDENT WAS IN THE LEFT COCKPIT SEAT, WORKING THE ENGINE CONTROLS. THE FIRST START ATTEMPT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE INSTRUCTOR POSITIONED THE PROP FOR THE SECOND ATTEMPT, AND THE ENGINE FIRED. NO HAND SIGNALS WERE GIVEN PRIOR TO THE SECOND START ATTEMPT. THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE INSTRUCTOR'S ARM AND LEG, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES. THE INSTRUCTOR BELIEVES THAT THE STUDENT DID NOT RETURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AFTER THE FIRST START ATTEMPT, CONTRARY TO WHAT WAS BRIEFED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,745 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 4,809 as pilot in command; 972 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,066 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MQY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4383Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.