What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was attempting to start the engine of his airplane. The aircraft was chocked but had not been tied down. As the pilot engaged in the hand-propping procedure, he slipped and fell, causing his glasses to come off. While reaching for his eyewear, the aircraft began to move unexpectedly. Unable to regain control or catch the aircraft, the pilot watched as it struck a nearby pole before coming to rest in a ditch.
The investigation
Examination of the scene revealed that the airplane was chocked but lacked tie-downs. The physical evidence indicated that the aircraft moved laterally during the engine start sequence, leading to impact with a fixed object (a pole) and subsequent displacement into an adjacent ditch.
Findings
Contributing factors included the failure to secure the aircraft with tie-downs and the pilot's loss of balance during the hand-propping process. The lack of restraint allowed the aircraft to move freely once the engine started, resulting in property damage and potential injury to the pilot.