Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC42-550FG accident near Tampa, Florida, August 26, 2010
On August 26, 2010 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC42-550FG, registered N1321C, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Tampa, Florida (Tampa Executive 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to reduce engine power following a high-powered engine start.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2010 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Tampa Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Columbia Aircraft Mfg LC42-550FG · all LC42-550FGs on the register
- Registration
- N1321C · registry record · serial 42517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he proceeded through the pre-engine start checklist and set the parking brake. After several failed attempts to start the engine, he increased the power lever setting before another start attempt. The engine subsequently started and the airplane abruptly lurched forward toward another airplane parked 150 feet directly ahead. The pilot immediately applied right rudder, which turned his airplane to the right; however, the right wing struck the parked airplane, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot exited the airplane uneventfully after it skidded to a stop. A witness reported hearing the airplane's engine start and described that it sounded as if the airplane was ready to take off. A photograph revealed tire skid marks leading to and beyond the parked airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during standing (engine(s) start-up)
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Braking capability › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 483 hours in all; 58 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 119 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VDF Tampa FL
- Destination: VDF Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:37 pm from VDF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA10CA445.