FTW83LA111

Factual narrative

THE FLT REPORTED THAT THE BATTERY WAS TOO LOW TO START THE ENGINE. A 72 YR OLD EX-PILOT OFFERED TO HAND PROP THE PLANE, BUT AFTER TRYING, HE THEN OFFERED TO HOLD THE BRAKES. WITH THE EX-PILOT AT THE CONTROLS & HOLDING THE BRAKES, THE PLT BEGAN TO HAND PROP THE ACFT. ON THE FIRST PULL, THE ENGINE STARTED & WENT TO FULL POWER, THE PLT TRIED TO STOP THE PLANE BY GRABBING THE WING TIP, BUT WAS UNABLE, AND IT STARTED ACROSS THE AIRPORT AT FULL POWER. THE ACFT HIT A HANGAR, 2 CARS & AN UPHOLSTERY SHOP. THE EX-PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE AIRCRAFT AT FULL POWER & HE COULD NOT PULL THE THROTTLE OUT. HE REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THAT HE HAD TO DEPRESS A RELEASE ON THE END OF THE THROTTLE IN ORDER TO PULL THE THROTTLE AFT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12