The Cessna 172 had just returned from a training flight near New Orleans and the engine was still warm.
The pilot said she had difficulty starting the engine and opened the throttle “just a bit.”
She said she set the parking brake and her feet were on the brakes. When the engine started, it went to high rpm.
The airplane lurched forward and collided with the FBO building. Examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident as the pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control after starting the engine, which resulted in a collision with a building.
NTSB Identification: CEN14CA070
This November 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.
Sometimes, stuff just happens. Next time, she won’t do it that way.
I see in the write up and comments from the investigation, that much attention was discussed about the AC brakes, and parking brake. While I certainly use and rely on my AC brake system, I view the write-up, and investigation information, has missed one very important and perhaps root cause item.
The pilot simply did not understand the mechanical systems of the aircraft. Nor did the pilot utilize the correct systematic approach, to medicate the dynamic situation. The pilot tried in vain to stop the dynamics, but unfortunately she was attempting to stop the movement with only the brakes. If only she would have understood the cause of the force was the engine and power system, and the one way to reduce this force from the engine, was to close the throttle! I also totally agree that there was no, or certainly incomplete planning, that led to this unsafe situation, and this warrants additional instruction, and practice in a much less congested area.
I wish the pilot luck, and hope that they get additional training.
Cause of incident, poor pilot basic training, CFI failure.
If a recip engine advances beyond an idle on srarting, it is bad for the engine, dangerous, a sign of poor basic training and something that is seen more and more around airports.
You will not see me, or one of my students do that, hot engine or cold.
Your right on target John!
Starting any aircraft engine other than a helicopter requires some basic prestart requirements for the brakes (parking) mainly. But I have seen airplanes started inside of hangars (cold weather) and then they got out of control because of the basic requirements to secure the craft were left out of the equation. “Set the brakes and review true throttle position”, before cranking.
I don’t want her anywhere near my hangar or airport.