What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The student pilot typically conducted training flights in the afternoon and was unfamiliar with local procedures regarding the parking brake system. Flight school personnel reported that the parking brake should be released and reset prior to use to ensure adequate brake pressure. The parking brake had reportedly been left set overnight, resulting in insufficient brake pressure the following morning.
When the student pilot started the engine, the aircraft began moving despite brake application. The aircraft continued forward and subsequently struck at least two parked vehicles.
Following the event, the flight school met with the student pilot and flight instructor, scheduled additional training, and revised local procedures to reduce the likelihood of a similar occurrence.
As the FAA filed it
THE STUDENT PILOT TYPICALLY CONDUCTED TRAINING FLIGHTS IN THE AFTERNOON AND WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH LOCAL PROCEDURES REGARDING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. FLIGHT SCHOOL PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE SHOULD BE RELEASED AND RESET PRIOR TO USE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE BRAKE PRESSURE. THE PARKING BRAKE HAD REPORTEDLY BEEN LEFT SET OVERNIGHT, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT BRAKE PRESSURE THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
WHEN THE STUDENT PILOT STARTED THE ENGINE, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN MOVING DESPITE BRAKE APPLICATION. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED FORWARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK AT LEAST TWO PARKED VEHICLES.
FOLLOWING THE EVENT, THE FLIGHT SCHOOL MET WITH THE STUDENT PILOT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, SCHEDULED ADDITIONAL TRAINING, AND REVISED LOCAL PROCEDURES TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.