NTSB Factual Report

The unoccupied airplane nosed over in a cornfield shortly after the pilot hand-propped the engine. The pilot reported that he had chocked both main landing gear, but there was no one at the aircraft controls during the engine start. Upon engine startup, the engine rpm "increased rapidly" before he had enough time to enter the airplane. The airplane reportedly "climbed over the chocks and started moving" and then traversed into a corn field before nosing over. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he had secured the tailwheel with a tie-down for engine start.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot intentionally leaving the airplane unoccupied during the engine start, which resulted in the unoccupied airplane traversing into a cornfield. A factor was the rough/uneven cornfield.