Incident Summary
A Piper PA-28-180 aircraft was involved in an accident after its engine started while the pilot was manually turning the propeller. The pilot reported that the engine had been flooded, leading him to attempt to clear it by hand-propping the propeller.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, he believed he had taken necessary safety precautions before hand-propping. He stated that he had turned the magnetos off, set the mixture to idle cut-off, and applied the parking brake. He then began to pull the propeller through by hand.
Unexpected Start
After approximately one-quarter of a turn, the engine started. The pilot was outside the cockpit and was unable to get back inside to control the aircraft. The aircraft then began to move on its own.
Collision
The aircraft traveled across a taxiway and a runway before hitting several small trees. The pilot was unable to prevent the aircraft from moving. No further details about damage or injuries were provided in the source.