Cessna R172K accident near Richmond, Virginia, March 15, 2003
On March 15, 2003 at about 4:45 am local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N1444V, was involved in an accident near Richmond, Virginia (Richmond International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger's failure to remain clear of the propeller. Factors included the passenger's recent use of marijuana, the pilot's inadequate pre-flight inspection, and the night lighting conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 2003 · about 4:45 am local time
- Place
- Richmond, Virginia · Richmond International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N1444V · no longer on the register · serial R1722192
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and the passenger conducted a preflight inspection, and boarded the airplane for a night departure. After starting the engine, the pilot noticed that the left main landing gear wheel chock had not been removed. He asked the passenger if he could go behind the airplane and pull it away. Before the passenger exited the airplane, the pilot repeated to him, "go to the back of the airplane, do not go to the front." After the passenger exited the airplane, the pilot saw him step toward the front, and screamed, "no, stop," but the passenger was struck by the moving propeller. The passenger subsequently tested positive for marijuana.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,150 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,890 as pilot in command; 240 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2002; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIC Richmond VA
- Destination: N06 Laurel DE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 160° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 am from RIC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N1444V 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.