What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Engine was left running with parking brake set (no chocks, no tie-downs) while the pilot used a restroom adjacent to the parking spot. While indisposed the pilot heard the brake release and the engine noise change as the aircraft taxied away under its own power. The plane taxied through a dip near the runup area causing a change in direction and a power increase. The plane tore through the chain link airport perimeter fence, taxied through an intersection of roads, then was stopped as it ran into an almond orchard.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ENGINE WAS LEFT RUNNING WITH PARKING BRAKE SET (NO CHOCKS, NO TIE-DOWNS) WHILE THE PILOT USED A RESTROOM ADJACENT TO THE PARKING SPOT. WHILE INDISPOSED THE PILOT HEARD THE BRAKE RELEASE AND THE ENGINE NOISE CHANGE AS THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED AWAY UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THE PLANE TAXIED THROUGH A DIP NEAR THE RUNUP AREA CAUSING A CHANGE IN DIRECTION AND A POWER INCREASE. THE PLANE TORE THROUGH THE CHAIN LINK AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE, TAXIED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OF ROADS, THEN WAS STOPPED AS IT RAN INTO AN ALMOND ORCHARD.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N6238U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.