Victim Was Hand-Propping 1974 Cherokee

A resident of Lakeside, California was reportedly killed when the propeller of a Piper PA-28R-200 he was hand-propping struck him in the head at Gillespie Field in El Cajon. (File photo of similar aircraft shown.) The accident happened Monday at about 0830, and has elicited numerous comments within the community about the proper technique for hand-starting, and whether it should be attempted at all.

KGTV News has identified the victim as 41-year-old Gordon Woodard, a vice president and lead engineer for Southern California Soil and Testing, Inc., with offices in the Grantville area. Woodard, who owned the plane, was reportedly transported to Sharp memorial Hospital in San Diego, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Tom Hannawa, owner of American Aviation Academy, also located at Gillespie Field, told KGTV, "My flight instructor saw an individual grab the blade with both hands and initiated a motion downward. When he did that, the engine apparently caught and the rising propeller coming up struck the individual on the top of the head." regarding hand-propping in general, he added, "at our flight school, we prohibit that practice."

The Cherokee is a 1974 model with fuel injection. In addition to the FAA and NTSB, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reportedly involved in the investigation.

FMI: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=746R