Aircraft Reportedly Got Away After Being Hand-Propped

A Cessna 182 was damaged when it got away from its pilot who had gotten out of the airplane to hand-prop it after it would not start normally. The plane veered away from the pilot and impacted the terminal building at the airport.

The incident occurred Sunday at the St Mary's airport in Elk County, PA. FAA records indicate that the plane is registered to Hoopses Turf Form Inc. in Ulysses, PA. The person attempting to hand-prop the airplane was not identified, but he and a woman from St. Mary's were preparing to depart the airport about 12:30 when the accident occurred.

Airport Manager Alan McPherson told wearecentralpa.com that the pilot had left the woman in the cockpit when he attempted to hand-prop the airplane. McPherson speculated that there was a "problem with the engine" that prompted the man to attempt the hand-start. After the engine started, the plane reportedly veered to the right and traveled toward the building. McPherson said that the man had a "noticeable gash on his forehead" after the incident. He had tried to race around the side of the plane and get back inside, but was unsuccessful.

The plane traveled a short distance and then hit the building. Other than the cut on his forehead, neither person was injured in the accident, nor was anyone else in the area or in the building, but the plane suffered significant damage to its propeller and left wing.

(Cessna 182 pictured in file photo. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov