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.