"Orval Fairbairn" wrote in message
news
As I understand it, it was not a landing accident at all! Apparently,
somebody either forgot to set the parking brake or forgot to chock the
plane and it rolled backwards, down the slope, through the fence and
into the waterway.

Reminds me of a time I couldn't get a C-172 to track straight down the
taxiway. Kept pulling to the left, and I thought it was the wicked gusting
crosswind we were having.

About the time the wheels left the planet I realized the parking brake was
partially engaged It was the first time I'd ever encountered a situation
where the previous renter had engaged the parking brake...not enough that it
was obvious by the position of the handle, but enough that it caught on the
wheel with the best shoe (Number of Checklist Items = Number of Checklist
Items + 1)

I confessed to the FBO but they weren't worried about the brakes; it was
scheduled for its 100-hour very soon, still had positive braking on both
wheels, and the brake pads were due for replacement anyway. Whew...

-c