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# Champions known for taking off on their own
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/champions-known-for-taking-off-on-their-own/
- Published: 2001-12-28T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T22:34:55.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import

In 1997, a Champion took off without a pilot in rural Ohio and flew for 90 minutes before crashing into a bean field.

In 1990, a Champion taxied in circles on the ground at a small Florida airport with the pilot hanging on to the door. He jumped free and the plane crashed into a soda machine.

In 1987, the same model got away from its pilot and flew by itself for 65 miles over rural New York before slamming into a tree.

Experts said the plane is prone to such behavior because of an old-fashioned starting system which requires the pilot to open the throttle and then climb out to crank the propeller to get the engine running.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 28, 2001.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/122801.pdf?ref=smdp.com)