Cessna 172 accident near Marshall, Texas, January 24, 2005
On January 24, 2005 at about 5:49 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N8134B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshall, Texas (Harrison County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper engine starting procedure resulting in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 2005 · about 5:49 pm local time
- Place
- Marshall, Texas · Harrison County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N8134B · registry record · serial 29934
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 1,620-hour commercial pilot reported that after three unsuccessful attempts to start the engine using the electrical starter, battery power was almost depleted. The pilot elected to start the engine by hand propping, without any assistance. After adjusting the throttle and securing the tail of the airplane, the pilot was able to start the engine on the second attempt. The pilot readjusted the throttle to an idle setting and unsecured the tail of the airplane. As the pilot was reentering the cockpit, his "foot slipped off the step" that is located on the left main landing gear strut. While reaching forward, the pilot "hit the throttle enough to increase the rpm" of the engine. Subsequently, the airplane started to taxi forward unoccupied. The pilot was able to re-board the airplane and close the throttle to idle as the airplane collided with a fence.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,620 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,505 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 24, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASL Marshall TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.