Piper PA-28-180 N9518J accident near Georgetown, Kentucky

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after engine start.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he had difficulty starting the engine. On the third attempt, the engine started at a high rpm, and the airplane rolled forward. The pilot applied left rudder and brakes and reduced the throttle to idle, but the airplane's forward momentum and engine rpm still seemed high, so the pilot used the mixture control to shut down the engine. However, the airplane struck a parked, unoccupied airplane before it stopped, and sustained substantial damage to its right wing. Postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot also reported that he did not experience any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12CA277 for the full record.