What happened
On 8 April 1999, a Cessna 150M, registration G-GLED, was involved in a ground collision at Elstross Aerodrome. The aircraft was being prepared for a training flight by a student pilot. While the instructor was completing necessary paperwork, the student pilot performed the pre-flight checks and started the engine alone.
Upon starting, the engine speed surged significantly above idle. The aircraft began moving forward toward a parked Cessna 172, registration G-BEBI. The propeller of the moving aircraft struck the wing tip of the Cessna 172, causing minor damage. The Cessna 150M continued its path, veering left along the line of parked planes. The left wing of the aircraft passed over the wing of a parked Cessna 150, registration G-GCNZ, until the propeller struck the middle of the stationary aircraft. This second impact halted the movement and stopped the engine. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the student was reportedly in shock following the event.
The investigation
The investigation established that the student pilot had only flown once in the preceding 18 months. During the post-accident review, the pilot realized he had incorrectly configured the throttle during the engine start sequence. Rather than setting the throttle to a position 1/4 open, he had set it to 1/4 of the way from the fully open position. Additionally, the pilot noted that the parking brake may not have been engaged. The investigation also noted that the pilot experienced a state of panic and felt unable to react once the aircraft began moving.