GRUMMAN AA5A PVT PLT HAS PROP STRIKE WITH PERSONAL VEHICLE.

Narrative

HOW THE PROB AROSE: AFTER PULLING PLANE OUT OF THE HANGAR; I WENT THROUGH THE STARTING CHKLIST WHICH INCLUDED MASTER ON; MAGNETOS ON; PRIME AND SET THROTTLE FOR ENG START. I THEN PUSHED THE STARTER BUTTON; BUT NO PWR TO SPIN PROP -- MOST LIKELY A DEAD BATTERY FROM LEAVING THE DOME LIGHT ON OR SOMETHING. I THEN MOVED MY PERSONAL VEHICLE; A 1991 FORD RANGER TO THE R SIDE OF THE PLANE TO USE JUMPER CABLES TO RECHARGE THE PLANE'S BATTERY. I REMAINED OUTSIDE THE PLANE DURING THIS TIME WHILE MY WIFE WAITED IN THE FRONT R (PAX) SEAT. AFTER CHARGING FOR APPROX 5-10 MINS; I WANTED TO KNOW IF THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED ENOUGH TO TURN THE PROP; SO I ASKED MY WIFE; SITTING IN THE FRONT PAX SEAT TO PUSH ON THE TOE BRAKES AND REACH ACROSS TO PRESS THE STARTER BUTTON ON THE PLT SIDE. I REMAINED OUTSIDE THE PLANE ON THE R-HAND SIDE; KEEPING THE BATTERY JUMPER CABLES FREE FROM THE PROP AREA. THE PLANE IMMEDIATELY STARTED AND DESPITE HER EFFORTS TO KEEP THE BRAKES SET; THE PLANE MOVED INTO THE DOOR OF MY VEHICLE; WHICH QUICKLY STOPPED THE PROP AND ENG; DESTROYING THE PAX DOOR TO MY PICK-UP TRUCK IN THE PROCESS. THE ONLY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE PLANE WAS THE PROP BENT AND A SMALL DING FROM FLYING DEBRIS ON THE L WING. IN NO WAY WAS HER OR MY INTENTION TO ACTUALLY START THE PLANE AT THIS JUNCTURE; SIMPLY JUST TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH CHARGE THE BATTERY HAD TO TURN THE PROP. PERCEPTIONS: WHEN I ASKED MY WIFE TO PUSH THE STARTER BUTTON; I HAD TOTALLY FORGOTTEN THAT I HAD IT CONFIGURED TO START (MASTER ON; MAGNETOS ON; PRIMED; THROTTLE SET). THIS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT THE PROP STARTED IMMEDIATELY WHEN SHE PRESSED THE START BUTTON. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: HAD I JUST SIMPLY TAKEN THE TIME TO CHARGE THE BATTERY A WHILE LONGER; THUS ENSURING THAT IT HAD SUFFICIENT CHARGE; DISCONNECTED THE JUMPER CABLES FROM THE TRUCK TO THE PLANE; CLOSED THE COWLING; PARKED THE TRUCK; THEN GOTTEN IN THE PLANE AND STARTED IT NORMALLY MYSELF; I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS WHOLE SITUATION. FACTORS AFFECTING MY DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: HAD WE NOT GOTTEN A LATE START THAT MORNING; I WOULDN'T HAVE LIKELY TRIED TO HURRY THE PROCESS ALONG. I CAN IMAGINE THAT MY THOUGHT PROCESS WOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE RATIONALE THAT IF I HAD DONE THE CORRECTIVE ACTION ABOVE AND THE PLANE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CHARGE IN THE BATTERY THEN I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE TRUCK OUT; HOOK UP THE CABLES; WAIT A WHILE LONGER WHILE IT CHARGED SOME MORE. DURING THIS SECOND WAIT; I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN IMPATIENTLY WONDERING IF IT WOULD START AFTER CHARGING IT SOME MORE THE SECOND TIME. MORAL TO THE STORY: DON'T GET IN A HURRY AND DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY EVERY TIME.