Pilot: Fashion editor warned away from propeller

(AP) 

DALLAS - A pilot has told investigators that he warned a Dallas-area woman away from the front of the small plane before she walked into the propeller.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Monday released a preliminary report on the Dec. 3 accident in McKinney that injured online fashion editor Lauren Scruggs. The Plano woman, who lost an eye and her left hand, continues in rehabilitation.

Editor loses eye, hand in propeller accident

The NTSB report says the pilot, whose name wasn't listed, landed and left the engine running while awaiting his next passenger to view holiday lights.

The pilot says he saw Scruggs exiting in front of the strut, he put out his right arm to divert her and said walk behind the plane.

He looked away, heard someone yell "stop, stop" and Scruggs was on the ground.

Scruggs is founder and editor of LoLo Magazine, which includes information on fashion, beauty, health and travel.

[troutfishman2]

He should have killed the engine, and she should have payed attention. Two errors compounded.

[RealiteBites]

Well, if you look at it in terms of how to prevent this from ever happening in the future, it would seem like the best way to do that would be to put a rule in that nobody can get out of a plane if the propeller's still moving (if getting out of the plane). And nobody can leave the waiting area for passengers if the propeller's still moving (if getting into the plane).

Airport workers and pilots would know better, and it might not be practical or even appropriate for those rules to have to apply to them.

But that doesn't necessarily mean it's the pilot's fault or anybody's fault - sometimes it's just one of those things ... an unfortunate miscommunication, etc ...

[RealiteBites]

That's what I just said - I was including the propeller as part of the engine ...

[retiredgustav]

nevwster1.... Think about what you wrote. If the engine is off the prop is stopped (unless it is a jet). And yes it is the pilot's fault. He should have physically restrained her if necessary. If I remember my F.A.R. correctly the pilot is responsible for the safety of the crew and the passengers.

[rwsmith29456]

She is lucky that is all she lost.

[culturechang]

I am a pilot and I never allow anyone around the airplane with the engine running. I would have warned her to stay in the plane until the engine was stationary.

[mecanik-2009]

No captain of any aircraft allows his passengers to exit the aircraft with the engines running. No exceptions.

[Rafterman11]

Well, one exception - helicopters.

[legacyABQ2]

lol

[Brokennews]

I give her props for surviving!

[legacyABQ2]

I give you props for this comment

[Lindag10]

They're BOTH idiots. The pilot should have shut down the engine before letting anyone off the plane. Was he trying for a "quick getaway"? The woman was really dumb for not realizing the engine was running and therefore the propeller was spinning. Plane engines are rather noisey so there was NO reason for her not to know it was running.

[PR_in_Alabama]

Is a Blond! nuff said!

[shazbat34]

Moron.

[fleetwood1955]

Actually, she's a brunette, look are her roots.

[BaselessCritique]

That she lost her hand and eye tells the story. I would wager that she was using her BlackBerry, distracted, looking down as she walked toward the front of the plane. The extended hand that's holding the device is caught in the prop.

The device explodes into a 1,000 pieces from the impact, and one or more bits of flying shrapnel strike her in the eye because her head's positioned with eyes open, looking at the display. If that's the case, it's tragic, but no one is to blame but the victim.

[tiredofeverything]

Love the people trying to blame the pilot.
If YOU saw a giant spinning propeller, would YOU walk into it?
Nevermind, these are Americans we're talking about, of course you would.

[caet13]

Think about this. If she had backed in to the prop it would have been a disaster. :>))

[retiredgustav]

If you are a pilot you first concern is the safety of your passengers? Obviously you are not a pilot and you don't know what you ae talking about. Don't forget this was at night time , the prop was not that visible.