The pilot of the multiengine Cessna 441 reported that he had preflighted the airplane about two hours before his intended departure and asked ground crew at the airport in Liberal, Kansas, to reposition the airplane.
When the pilot was ready for departure, he reported that he did not do another preflight, but only walked around the nose of the airplane to get to the entrance door.
After he started both engines, the airplane would not taxi forward.
The pilot told investigators that he thought that he set the brakes, reduced both engines to an idle power setting, and exited the airplane.
He saw a chock on the airplane’s nosewheel, and after he removed the chock, the airplane began to move forward.
He attempted to reboard the unoccupied airplane. However, he was unable to and the airplane collided with a hangar, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, failure to set the parking brake, and his decision to exit the airplane with engines running to remove a wheel chock, resulting in the airplane’s unintended movement and subsequent collision with a hangar.
NTSB Identification: 106480
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This December 2022 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
