Incident Overview
On 25 September 1998 at 1150 UTC, a Yakovlev YAK-52 (registration G-BWSW) was involved in a ground collision at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, Devon. The aircraft was powered by a single Vedeneyev M-14P piston engine and had been manufactured in 1986. The flight was private, with only the pilot on board.
Pilot Experience
The 38-year-old pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 85 total flying hours, of which 6 were on the YAK-52 type. In the preceding 90 days, he had flown 43 hours, and in the last 28 days, 16 hours. He was undergoing conversion training on the type and had completed six hours of instruction prior to the event.
Sequence of Events
The pilot intended to start the engine and taxi the aircraft to the other side of the airfield. Upon engine start, the aircraft began to move forward and to the left at high speed. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it traversed a wire fence and entered a wooded area on the airfield boundary.
Damage
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the propeller, wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported no injuries.
Investigation
The information was derived from an Aircraft Accident Report Form submitted by the pilot. No probable cause was stated in the source material.