NTSB Factual Report

On May 12, 2003 at 1100 eastern daylight time, an American General Aircraft , AG5B, N1193W, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with a parked airplane after the pilot hand propped the engine at Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and passenger received no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The parked Beechcraft A90 also sustained structural damage. The flight was originating from Beaufort, North Carolina, at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that initial attempts to start the airplane were unsuccessful due to a low battery. The pilot primed the engine and opened the throttle approximately 1/4 inch and instructed his passenger to hold the brakes while he hand started the engine. The passenger, a non-pilot, was pressing on the rudder and not the brakes. After the engine started, the airplane began to move and the pilot attempted to board the airplane but failed. The aircraft continued its movement until it struck the parked airplane.

The pilot did not report setting the park brake prior to hand propping the engine. According to the airplane's before starting engine checklist the parking break should have been set. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to follow the checklist and set the parking brake which resulted in the airplane colliding with a parked airplane.