| Crash location | 39.466945°N, 77.017778°W |
| Nearest city | Westminster, MD
39.575379°N, 76.995815°W 7.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N1397E |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 03 Jul 2009 |
| Aircraft type | Champion 7AC |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot stated that he attempted to start the engine by "hand-propping." The engine started briefly and then stopped. The pilot added that he then primed the engine but "forgot the throttle in the full open position." He hand-propped the engine again, and it started. The airplane began to accelerate forward and became airborne. The airplane flew down a ravine and collided into trees. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if the airplane had been tied down during the engine start.
The pilot's failure to properly set the throttle for start.