KEY LARGO, FL, USA
N18368
BEECH V35B
THE PILOT STARTED THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE AND MOVED THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. HE THEN REDUCED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO CHECK A TIRE. HE DID NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. AFTER CHECKING THE TIRE FROM IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT WING HE HEARD THE ENGINE COUGH A FEW TIMES AND THEN INCREASE IN SPEED. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD AND HE PUSHED ON THE RIGHT WING IN ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED 150 DEGREES AND HE WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TRAVELED ACROSS A ROAD AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND A TRASH DUMPSTER.
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S COMPLACENCY AND DECISION TO LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS UNATTENDED WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AND WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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