The pilot was attempting to hand-prop a Piper Comanche by himself in Phillipsburgh, Ohio. He did not set the parking brake before he began the procedure.
When the engine started, the airplane began to move forward. The pilot tried to reach into the cockpit to grab the hand brake, but in the process pushed the throttle in, which made the airplane accelerate.
He wasn’t able to stop the airplane before it crashed into a hangar. The airplane’s wings were substantially damaged.
The post-accident examination of the airplane found the throttle in the full forward position.
The NTSB attributed the accident to the pilot’s improper operation of the airplane controls during engine start, which resulted in a collision with a hangar.
NTSB Identification: CEN13CA139
This January 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
