On 2 Oct 2013, a PIPER PA 28-180 180 was involved in an aviation accident near Benton Harbor, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the engine start sequence. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Piper PA 28-180 collided with a hangar at an airport in Benton Harbor, Michigan, after the pilot applied full throttle during engine start.
What happened
On October 2, 2013, a Piper PA 28-180, registration N8084W, was undergoing engine start procedures at an airport in Benton Harbor, Michigan. During the start sequence, the pilot applied full throttle. Immediately following the engine start, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, resulting in a collision with a hangar.
One ground worker sustained minor injuries during the impact. The pilot reported that the aircraft experienced no mechanical issues and attributed the event to pilot error.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during the engine start sequence.