No fatalities

Unrestrained Airplane Circles During Engine Start, Strikes Parked Aircraft

Camden, TN, United States

On June 30, 2012, a TAYLORCRAFT BC12-D was involved in an aviation accident near Camden, TN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to properly secure the airplane before hand-propping the engine for startup. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During engine start, a pilot used small chocks without tying the tail. After the engine started, the airplane taxied out of chocks, circled, dragged the pilot, and struck a parked airplane.

Circumstances

The pilot reported that during engine start, he used small chocks placed around the tires and did not tie down the tail of the airplane. On the first attempt to hand-prop the engine, it did not start. The pilot then advanced the throttle "very slightly." The engine subsequently started, and as the pilot was moving toward the cockpit, the engine rpm increased. The airplane taxied out of the small chocks and began turning in circles. The pilot grabbed the right horizontal stabilizer, but the airplane continued to circle while dragging the pilot. It struck a parked airplane before coming to rest.

Post-Accident Examination

An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The inspector noted substantial damage to the empennage.

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect use/operation