Amateur-built PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee, December 12, 2024
On December 12, 2024 at about 5:35 pm local time, a 1993 amateur-built PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, registered N161DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Tullahoma, Tennessee (Tullahoma Rgnl/Wm Northern Fld 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 adequately secure the airplane before hand-propping the engine. Contributing was the pilot’s lack of training in hand-propping procedures.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 2024 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Tullahoma, Tennessee · Tullahoma Rgnl/Wm Northern Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER, built 1993
- Registration
- N161DW · registry record · serial 787-393
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just finished fueling the airplane and was trying to start the engine. After several failed attempts to start the engine with the electric starter, the pilot decided to “hand prop” the engine. The pilot subsequently placed standard, low-profile general aviation wheel chocks under the wheels, but did not tie down or otherwise secure the airplane. Additionally, the pilot did not secure anyone to assist him and there was no qualified pilot seated in the airplane during his attempt to start the engine. As soon as the engine started, and the airplane’s wheels rolled over the chocks, and the airplane taxied into a closed hangar door, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings, and damaging the hangar doors. Following the accident, the pilot stated that he had not previously received any formal training for hand propping an airplane, but that a mechanic had shown him how to do it. He was not aware of recommended precautions like having a qualified and trained pilot at the controls or tying the airplane down.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Training › Training with equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Parking/securing › Tie › down/mooring › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 356 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 304 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 8, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: none
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 343 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 10, 2024; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,198 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C-85-12-F (piston); 343 hours total
The flight
- Destination: KFYM Fayetteville TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.44 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from THA
Weather report (METAR): KTHA 121735Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 06/M07 A3044 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 3, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 ERA25LA077.