He 'hand-propped' the aircraft (apparently without anyone in the cockpit) and then 'revved' the engine from outside the cockpit?
I'm not one for putting much stock in newspaper reports, but if the facts are as reported he should not fly again. These types of incidents are not what GA needs. JMHO Roy NC70UF ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Wilkens Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:00 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ercoupe-flyin] Another Coupe gone Importance: Low Looks like it isn't too bad. The Coupe and pilot both should fly again. Richard N99904 MTJ BYRON, N.Y. (AP) - A pilot escaped injury when the small airplane he was warming up taxied out of control across a cornfield and into an apple tree. Genesee County sheriff's deputies say John Sackett Jr. had just spun the propeller to start the two-seater and was revving the engine from outside the cockpit when the plane jumped a piece of wood blocking one of its wheels. The 80-year-old pilot chased the plane as it motored off his property, through a berry patch and into a post and trellis before hitting the tree Tuesday afternoon. Sackett is the former supervisor of the town of Byron. An experienced pilot, he bought the 1945 vintage, single-engine Ercoupe in 2008. With only minor wing damage, the plane was towed back to the small airstrip on Sackett's property. At 07:38 PM 2/18/2009, Paul M. Anton wrote: While checking on a possible local forced landing I spotted this
