Piper PA-46-310P accident near Venice, Florida, February 23, 2013
On February 23, 2013 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered CGNEW, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) start-up) near Venice, Florida (Venice Municipal 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 failure to secure the airplane before moving the propeller to assist the engine start.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2013 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Venice, Florida · Venice Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- CGNEW · no longer on the register · serial 46-8608029
- 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 attempted to start the engine while it was still warm. He noted that he used several throttle and mixture lever positions to try to start the engine but that the starter clutch would not engage and the engine would not start. The pilot turned off the master switch, but he inadvertently left the magneto switch in the ON position. He then exited the airplane and rotated the propeller to assist the engine start. As he started to walk back to re-enter the airplane, the propeller moved, and the engine started. The airplane moved forward, struck a taxiway light, and came to rest in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Ground handling event during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › (general) › (general) › Related operating info
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,748 hours in all; 470 in this make and model; 1,395 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 17, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,648 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 4,118 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors, Inc. TSIO-550-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: 1478392 Alberta Ltd
The flight
- Departed from: VNC Venice FL at 12:50 pm
- Destination: FL59 Fort Myers FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from VNC
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.
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.