http://www.casa.gov.au/fsa/2001/sep/10-13.

pdf and By Police Reporter MATTHEW BOWMAN 28aug01 THE operators of a flying school at Parafield are confident their students can soon be back in the air despite the bizarre accident which wiped out nearly all the school's aircraft. Four Piper Warriors and one Piper Seminole aircraft operated by the University of SA Flying School were severely damaged when they were struck by a runaway plane on Sunday night. The planes - which will cost $1.5 million to replace - are likely to be written off by insurance assessors. The twin-engined Seminole was virtually gutted when the runaway plane's propeller repeatedly chopped into the right side of the fuselage from the tail to the cabin. The accident has devastated students and staff who were trying yesterday to organise similar aircraft they could lease. About 70 students are anxious to continue flying. "I can't believe it - I've never seen damage like that before," said flying school graduate and instructor Jason Kreuzer. "It's just gone straight through (the other planes)," he said. "The students are devastated. It's a big break in their flying program which they can't afford." The incident happened when a pilot not associated with the flying school attempted to "jump-start" his single-engined Piper Cherokee, which had a flat battery. It started and taxied away from him, crashing into the four Warriors parked about 25m away. It then continued on and crashed into the Seminole which was parked outside the flying school hangar. University of SA spokesman Professor Robin King said the flying school would lease similar aircraft until permanent replacements could be bought. "Our prime concern is to get our students flying again as soon as possible," he said. "It's certainly a setback but one I believe we can overcome quickly." Professor King said hand-cranking or "jump-starting" an aircraft's engine was an emergency procedure to be avoided if possible. The damaged planes were moved inside the flying school's hangar, where they remained yesterday awaiting insurance assessment. University of SA's head of aviation Professor John Thomas said: "It's an amazing example of what a propeller can do." "A $200 battery has resulted in more than $1 million damage," he said. "It appears this person started the plane unaided and it got away from him. This incident highlights the need for professional training in aviation." CASA investigators spoke to witnesses yesterday, including the Whyalla pilot, aged in his late 40s, who hand-cranked the Cherokee.

The Runaway Saratoga, and the Shredded Seminole

At Parafield Airport, Australia August 26th, 2001

Night Flight...
On the night of August 26th, 2001, at Parafield Airport, north of Adelaide, Australia, Doctor Luis Isabel, a 50-year-old surgeon from Wattle Park, was preparing for a flight home when he discovered that the battery to his singleengine Piper Saratoga was dead. Satisfied the handbrake was on, he neglected to use chocks or locate another pilot to take the controls. The doctor climbed on to a wing to hand start the propeller but felt a huge surge of power as the engine started. The plane shot away from him, and taxied forward. After being knocked down by the Saratoga, Isabel was hanging on to the tail of his aircraft trying to stop it going any further, and watching in horror it shreds through several surrounding aircraft - hoping that, any minute, the engine will stop. But, unmanned for over 150 yards the Saratoga sliced through four Piper Warriors, operated by the University of South Australia Flying School, before turning sharply right and plowing into the school's Piper Seminole, registered as VH-KBZ, virtually destroying it, and spewing out hundreds of liters of avgas.

Amazingly, no one was hurt in the incident. The Saratoga's wild ride ended, just 25 yards from the airport's fuel tanks.

Making the Best...

It was pretty horrendous, said Professor John Thomas, head of aviation at the university, It was hard to know where to start. Just totally devastating. The university lost four of its six aircraft, and was forced to hire substitutes so normal operations could continue during the mid-semester break, when its 75 students concentrate on building their flying hours. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority conducted an investigation of the incident, and filed criminal charges against Isabel, but the Adelaide magistrate threw out the charges, citing that it could not be proven it was not a mistake. It was surmised that the brake cylinder to Isabel's Saratoga may have had a cut or slit in the tubing, causing the pressure in the brake line to leak. The University of South Australia sued Dr. Isabel for $262,694.39, for the loss of the four Warriors, and for other costs associated with loss or their use.

Birth of a Myth...
Photos of the shredded Seminole quickly found their way onto the Internet, and formed a mythology of their own. The prevailing legend grew legs when picture of the plane appeared on eBay, with the alleged backstory being that of a guy with an angry ex-wife. Apparently he wouldnt let her get breast implants and instead bought the plane. She got mad and went out to the airport with a chainsaw, resulting in the photos. In the fourth season of Mythbusters, the myth was debunked, but the true story of VH-KBZ's photos were confirmed via realistic testing using a portion of wrecked aircraft, and engine mounted on a guidance rail.