Incident Description
A commercial pilot was taxiing an airplane toward the active runway when he realized the tail wheel lock was engaged. With the engine still running, the pilot set the parking brake, installed the control lock, and exited the airplane intending to manually unlock the tail wheel.
Upon exiting the cockpit, the pilot inadvertently knocked or pushed the throttle forward to a high power setting. The airplane, now unoccupied, began to roll across the taxiway. It accelerated, momentarily became airborne, and subsequently collided with an airport perimeter fence and the surrounding terrain.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings.
Reported Conditions
No pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported. The pilot's action of inadvertently advancing the throttle while exiting was described as the precipitating event.