According to the news, the pilot "pilot accidentally knocked the propeller"!
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According to the news, the pilot "pilot accidentally knocked the propeller"!
Originally Posted by http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/26/2831501.htm
Pilot-less plane destroys aircraft in runway crash
By Gina Marich
Updated 27 minutes ago
A pilot-less plane smashed into this aircraft on a remote airstrip in the NT. (ABC TV)
MAP: Gunbalanya 0822
A light aircraft has been destroyed after a pilot-less plane crashed into it on a remote airstrip in the Northern Territory early this morning.
Police say both planes were on the ground at Gunbalanya, about 330 kilometres east of Darwin, when one of the plane's engines started up when the pilot accidentally knocked the propeller.
"It is believed the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area when he exited the aircraft, accidentally knocking the propeller, causing the engine to start," police said in a statement.
"The plane has then moved forward about 20 metres before colliding with the rear of another Cessna, causing extensive damage."
Police say the damaged plane is a write-off.
"This was a pretty unusual job for us to attend and the pilot was extremely fortunate he was not injured as a result of the incident," Senior Constable Nathan Conelius said.
The pilot was breath-tested but returned a negative alcohol reading.
The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau was notified but the bureau says it is unlikely to investigate the matter further.
By Gina Marich
Updated 27 minutes ago
A pilot-less plane smashed into this aircraft on a remote airstrip in the NT. (ABC TV)
MAP: Gunbalanya 0822
A light aircraft has been destroyed after a pilot-less plane crashed into it on a remote airstrip in the Northern Territory early this morning.
Police say both planes were on the ground at Gunbalanya, about 330 kilometres east of Darwin, when one of the plane's engines started up when the pilot accidentally knocked the propeller.
"It is believed the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area when he exited the aircraft, accidentally knocking the propeller, causing the engine to start," police said in a statement.
"The plane has then moved forward about 20 metres before colliding with the rear of another Cessna, causing extensive damage."
Police say the damaged plane is a write-off.
"This was a pretty unusual job for us to attend and the pilot was extremely fortunate he was not injured as a result of the incident," Senior Constable Nathan Conelius said.
The pilot was breath-tested but returned a negative alcohol reading.
The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau was notified but the bureau says it is unlikely to investigate the matter further.
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Same story on Ninemsn (give or take 90km):
17:00 AEST Fri Feb 26 2010
2 hours 40 minutes ago
By Jonathan Uptin, Nine News Darwin
The damaged plane after the crash. (NT Police)
A plane with no-one at the controls has crashed into another aircraft in a freak accident at a remote airstrip in the Northern Territory.
The Cessna's engine accidentally started when the pilot brushed the propeller as he was preparing to move the plane at Oenpelli, some 250km east of Darwin.
It starting moving and careered into the back of another Cessna about 20m away.
17:00 AEST Fri Feb 26 2010
2 hours 40 minutes ago
By Jonathan Uptin, Nine News Darwin
The damaged plane after the crash. (NT Police)
A plane with no-one at the controls has crashed into another aircraft in a freak accident at a remote airstrip in the Northern Territory.
The Cessna's engine accidentally started when the pilot brushed the propeller as he was preparing to move the plane at Oenpelli, some 250km east of Darwin.
It starting moving and careered into the back of another Cessna about 20m away.
Police attended Oenpelli Airport about 1am this morning relation to an aircraft accident.
It is believed the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area.
Where is he/she going at 1AM???
It is believed the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area.
Where is he/she going at 1AM???
Police attended Oenpelli Airport about 1am this morning relation to an aircraft accident.
It is believed the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area.
Where is he/she going at 1AM???
It is believed the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area.
Where is he/she going at 1AM???
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word floating around is the plane was all ready to start (mixture rich, master on, throttle open), tie downs were noticed to be still attached, so pilot jumped out to un-tie the plane without changing the settings (mixture etc) then bumped into the prop when walking to get back to get into the plane, and the plane started.
couple of things that i don't get are surely a 206 couldn't start just by bumping the prop even if the master etc were on? which makes you think was the plane already started when they noticed the tie downs were still attached an they didn't bother to shut down the engine..
and why was the plane being started at that time of night??
couple of things that i don't get are surely a 206 couldn't start just by bumping the prop even if the master etc were on? which makes you think was the plane already started when they noticed the tie downs were still attached an they didn't bother to shut down the engine..
and why was the plane being started at that time of night??
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Dead battery; hand propping with throttle open too far; not tied down good enough; common scenario. . This is the first time I've heard this excuse, though.
Bumping the prop? The pilot should be fired for clumsiness.
GB
Bumping the prop? The pilot should be fired for clumsiness.
GB
AustralianMade
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Bumping the prop, couldn't the pilot come up with something better than that? We always treat the prop with caution and make sure not to get too close to it - for this very reason. It is something ingrained into us from day one.
My money is on this one!
...which makes you think was the plane already started when they noticed the tie downs were still attached an they didn't bother to shut down the engine.
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I really feel for the pilot and hope this incident won't affect his or her career now or in the future. As the saying goes, one can only learn from experience, whether it be good or bad experiences.
That kind of sympathy is unusual on this board... it was you wasn't it JulieFlyGirl? 
Another plausable scenario which fits with the pilot's story is that it had been running but he shut it down when he noticed the tie-downs. Prop stops not far from TDC and he bumps it just enough to push it over the top.
Reason he was taxiing at night in crap weather? Because it was crap weather and he wanted to move it to a safer spot (hangar?)
He's lucky he didn't get chopped up.
Another plausable scenario which fits with the pilot's story is that it had been running but he shut it down when he noticed the tie-downs. Prop stops not far from TDC and he bumps it just enough to push it over the top.
Reason he was taxiing at night in crap weather? Because it was crap weather and he wanted to move it to a safer spot (hangar?)
He's lucky he didn't get chopped up.
I really feel for the pilot and hope this incident won't affect his or her career now or in the future.
I have a bit of sympathy for the WW pilot for this reason, and his company didn't help by putting him on a pedestal (makes him easier to hit with the rocks we're all throwing). Poor bastard.
Onetrack
Hmmmm .. do I hear this particular pilot in his new job? - "Did you want fries with that?? ......
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"Another plausable scenario which fits with the pilot's story is that it had been running but he shut it down when he noticed the tie-downs. Prop stops not far from TDC and he bumps it just enough to push it over the top."
I don't think that is plausable aerocat. If they did shut down the engine the the mixture an throttle would be pulled back, an if the prop was knocked passed TDC, the plane wouldn't have started an accelerated up the back of the other one (as it looks like it did from the pics). The throttle must have been open quite a bit, because if I remember correctly oenpelli's apron slopes upwards in the direction those planes are facing.
I don't think that is plausable aerocat. If they did shut down the engine the the mixture an throttle would be pulled back, an if the prop was knocked passed TDC, the plane wouldn't have started an accelerated up the back of the other one (as it looks like it did from the pics). The throttle must have been open quite a bit, because if I remember correctly oenpelli's apron slopes upwards in the direction those planes are facing.