Champion 7GCAA N9081L

Summary

On 28 October 2004 at about 16:30 local time, a Champion 7GCAA registered N9081L, operated by Joel B. Kimmel, was involved in an accident near Petaluma, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 October 2004 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Petaluma, California, United States

Nearest airport

Petaluma (KO69)

Coordinates

38.2578, -122.6056

Aircraft

Champion 7GCAA

Registration

N9081L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Joel B. Kimmel

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Petaluma → Petaluma

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX05CA024

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to follow the published prestart, start, and shutdown procedures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was adjusting the propeller's position by hand when the engine started, and the pilotless airplane taxied across the ramp and into a parked airplane. After numerous unsuccessful start attempts using the airplane's electric starter, the pilot examined the engine and adjusted the propeller by hand. When he adjusted the propeller the engine started. He had left the brakes off, the magnetos on, and the throttle advanced. After the engine started, the pilot backed away, and the airplane moved forward. The pilot attempted to arrest the movement by grabbing on to the right wing strut, but this action was unsuccessful. The airplane continued forward eventually impacting the nose onto the right front side of a parked airplane. The pilot's operating manual states in the before starting checklist to set the brakes, and in the starting checklist to crack the throttle open 1/2 to 1 inch. The shutdown checklist states the mixture should be idle - cut off and the magnetos off.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.