After pull-starting the engine of his powered parachute; the pilot was unable to restrain it and it took off on its own and flew out of sight.

Narrative

The event was a fly in and barbecue with balloon dropping and spot landing for local PPC [Powered Parachute] pilots Enthusiasts and friends Myself [and] the above pilot[s] were to fly these events with five others in the pattern at one time. I had a malfunction with the engine starter and; while strapped in ready to fly; got out of the craft with the intention of pull starting the engine.Being 6ft 4in tall with cramped conditions I unintentionally must have hit the throttle to the open status. To pull start the craft one must stand along side the fuselage to operate. Well; the rest is a total embarrassment [as] the craft lurched into life pulling me with it while] trying to reach the throttle [to] no avail. The rear wheel clamped me down to the ground and drug me approximate 20 feet before Icould no longer hold on.In a very short roll the chute inflated and [the aircraft] climbed away; gaining altitude quickly. It circled above the airport and started to drift to the ENE until out of sight. Spotter aircraft joined in the search and 2 hours later when we felt the aircraft would be out of fuel I flew with a friend in another PPC for over an hour searching the sky for it. As of this time we have no news of its whereabouts.