NTSB Identification: DFW08LA055
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, January 03, 2008 in Oklahoma City, OK
Aircraft: Pilatus PC-12/45, registration: N398J
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On January 3, 2008, approximately 0300 central standard time, a Pilatus PC-12/45, N398J, a single-engine turbo-prop airplane, was not damaged when a line technician was struck and killed by its moving propeller while parked at the ramp at Wiley Post Airport, Oklahoma City (PWA), Oklahoma. The commercial pilot and the 7 passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated by and registered to Oklahoma Cardiovascular Associates, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight that had departed the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona, about 2200. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross country flight that was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot said that after landing he taxied the airplane to the fixed base operator (FBO) based at the airport. When he reached the ramp at the FBO, the line technician guided him to a full stop. The pilot then began to shut down the engine when the line technician walked into the propeller. At that point, the pilot and a passenger, who was a physician, exited the aircraft. The physician immediately administered first aid to the technician until emergency response personnel arrived.

The FBO's third shift supervisor was on the ramp when the accident occurred, but he did not witness the line technician being struck by the propeller. According to the supervisor, he was operating an airplane tug and had last observed the line technician marshalling the airplane. The supervisor had turned away from the airplane when he heard a loud "thud." When he turned around, he saw that the line technician was critically injured and was rolling on the ground toward the airplane's left wing tip. At the time the accident occurred, the pilot was already in the process of shutting down the engine.

Weather reported at Wiley Post Airport at 0253 included wind from 170 degrees at 16 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.65 inches of Mercury.