Was Near Finishing Work On His Private Certificate When The Accident Occurred

A student pilot who was reportedly just about ready to go for his Private Pilot checkride has his arm severed above the elbow by the propeller of the Cessna 172 he had just landed Sunday afternoon.

The pilot, Vineet Singh, had been taking instruction through Pressley Aviation at Goose Creek Airport (28A) in North Carolina's Union County. He had flown with his instructor Sunday to Stanly County Airport in Arbermarle, NC (KVUJ). FBO and flight school owner Leighton Pressley and his 16-year-old daughter had gone along on the flight. Television station WSOC reports that the instructor was at the controls when Singh exited the airplane and "ended up in the propeller," according to Stanly County Airport Manager David Griffin.

Pressley reportedly used his belt as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding from Singh's severed arm. He was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center's main hospital in Charlotte, NC, where he was listed in fair condition.

Singh had nearly 60 hours in his logbook, and was near to taking his checkride for his Private Pilot certificate. The FAA told the station that it has not certified Pressley Aviation as a flight school, but that four of the five pilots listed on the company's website are CFIs.

(Cessna 172 image from file. Not incident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov