Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was a Cessna 172N Skyhawk, registration G-SEVE, powered by a single Lycoming O-320-H2AD piston engine. It was manufactured in 1977. The flight was a training solo taxiing exercise at Netherthorpe Airfield, Nottingham. The commander was a 48-year-old student pilot with 17 hours of flying experience, all on type. There were no passengers on board.
Sequence of Events
On 4 April 2003 at 1150 hours UTC, the student pilot was instructed by his instructor to taxi the aircraft from its parking position to the fuel pumps. He completed the before-start checks from the checklist, including setting the parking brake, and then started the engine. Upon starting, the aircraft moved rapidly forward into the rear of a parked Cessna 150. The propeller of the Cessna 172 caused considerable damage to the tailplane of the Cessna 150 before the pilot managed to shut the engine down.
In a report submitted by the pilot, he stated that when carrying out the before-start checklist item requiring him to set the throttle 1/4 inch open, he inadvertently set it 1/4 inch from the firewall—effectively 1/4 inch from fully open. He commented that the aircraft moved forward very quickly under almost full power. Although he attempted to apply the toe brakes, it was too late.
Injuries and Damage
The crew—the sole occupant—sustained no injuries. The damage was limited to the propeller of the Cessna 172N and the tailplane of the Cessna 150.
Probable Cause
The student pilot inadvertently set the throttle 1/4 inch from fully open instead of the intended 1/4 inch open, resulting in near-full power during engine start.