Incident Overview
A pilot recounted an accident that occurred after refueling an airplane. The pilot stated that after refueling, he boarded the aircraft and attempted to start the engine, but it would not start. He then turned off the magneto switch, set the brakes, and exited the airplane. He attempted to start the engine by hand several times, without success. After a brief distraction, he again moved the propeller, at which point the engine suddenly started operating immediately.
Sequence of Events
The airplane began moving forward, heading toward a fuel tank. The pilot ran after it and grabbed the left strut in an effort to prevent a collision with the tank. The airplane then proceeded between the fuel tank and a credit card machine, knocking the pilot to the ground. The aircraft continued onward, impacting two parked airplanes and two chain-link fences before coming to a stop.
Investigation Findings
The investigation did not specify a probable cause for the accident. The pilot's actions and the circumstances leading to the unintended engine start were documented, but no causal factors were identified in the available source material.