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GAA18CA295

2018-05-24 · Batavia, Ohio, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport I69

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The student pilot’s use of an improper engine hand-propping procedure, which resulted in the airplane’s unexpected movement.

Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that, while hand-propping the engine, the engine started at full power, and the airplane jumped over the chocks and began moving in circles. Subsequently, to stop the airplane, an airport vehicle was driven into the airplane's tail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student recommended that better control of the throttle could have prevented the accident. The student pilot reported that, while hand-propping the engine, the engine started at full power, and the airplane jumped over the chocks and began moving in circles. Subsequently, to stop the airplane, an airport vehicle was driven into the airplane's tail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student recommended that better control of the throttle could have prevented the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine controls-Power lever-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of policy/procedure-Student/instructed pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA295.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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