An engine and propeller control system (EPECS) of an aircraft includes a propeller coupled to an aircraft engine. The propeller includes a plurality of blades, each of the blades coupled to an actuator configured to adjust the blades into a first pitch to produce forward thrust, a second pitch to produce reverse thrust, or flight-idle position to idle the propeller. A controller receives a reverse thrust command signal indicating a request by an aircraft operator to invoke the second pitch, and controls the actuator to invoke the flight-idle position prior to invoking the second pitch. The controller is configured to erroneously determine an aircraft on-ground state during which the aircraft is touching ground, and generate alerts indicating that the reverse thrust command signal was generated prior to touching the ground and that the propeller will be adjusted from the flight-idle position into the second pitch.