NTSB Factual Report

The sport pilot had just landed after completing a local flight. He reported that while taxiing his airplane to position it for a push back into his hangar, he advanced power instead of reducing power. The airplane taxied off the movement area, down into a ditch colliding with terrain adjacent a taxi-way. The firewall and forward fuselage was substantially damaged.

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The sport pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during taxi as a result of improperly manipulating the engine power.