On June 12, 1983, a Piper J3C-65 (registration N19AN) operated by Frederick Troelstra was involved in an aviation accident near Argyle, NY. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempting a hand-prop start for about 20 minutes got the engine running, then was knocked down as the aircraft rolled forward. The passenger could not stop it, and the aircraft went off a 15-foot embankment.
Incident Overview
A pilot was attempting to start an aircraft's engine by hand propping. The process lasted approximately 20 minutes. When the engine finally started, it continued to rev up. During this time, a passenger was seated in the rear of the aircraft.
Sequence of Events
As the pilot was returning to the cockpit, the aircraft began to roll forward. The pilot was knocked down by the wing strut. The aircraft continued moving in a wide semi-circle. According to reports, the passenger applied brake pressure but was unable to stop the aircraft.
Aftermath
The aircraft subsequently departed the intended area and went off a 15-foot embankment of a gravel pit. It impacted nose-first into the pit and came to rest against the opposite embankment.