N4188E

On March 21, 1999, at 1725 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N4188E, and a Rockwell International NA-265-80, N818DW, collided on taxiway alpha while taxing to their respective parking locations at the Scottsdale, Arizona, airport. Both aircraft had just landed on runway 21 and were in contact with the Scottsdale Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control Tower. The Piper PA-28-181 was issued a clearance to taxi by the ground controller, and the Rockwell NA-265-80 had turned off the runway and was issued a taxi clearance by the local controller. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The Piper PA-28-181 was owned and operated by Sabena Airline Training Center of Scottsdale as a local area solo instructional flight, which originated at the Scottsdale airport about 1615. The Rockwell NA-265-80 was owned and operated by DW Holdings, LLC, of Sparta, New Jersey, and was concluding a cross-country corporate flight, which originated from Kansas City, Kansas, at 1723 central standard time. An IFR flight plan was filed for the Rockwell's flight and no flight plan was on file for the Piper. Both aircraft were operating under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The Piper PA-28-181 sustained substantial damage and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The Rockwell NA-265-80 sustained minor damage and neither the airline transport pilot captain, the commercial pilot first officer, nor the three passengers were injured.

The student pilot of N4188E reported that she landed on runway 21, exited at taxiway A11, and contacted ground control. A taxi clearance was issued by the controller to proceed southbound on taxiway alpha to parking. The controller did not advise her of any traffic entering the taxiway. As she approached the intersection of A5, she observed a Sabreliner exiting runway 21. She stated that she continued taxiing because it appeared that the Sabreliner was stopping, and the ground controller issued no other instructions to her. When N4188E reached the intersection of taxiway alpha and A5, the pilot realized the Sabreliner wasn't stopping and attempted to turn right and avoid the aircraft. The left wing of the Piper PA-28 struck the forward avionics bay of N818DW and became entangled in the structure. The Piper-28 was shoved 180 degrees to the left and the left wing was torn off as the Sabreliner moved forward. The fuel lines from both fuel tanks of the Piper PA-28 were severed resulting in a fuel spill on the taxiway. The pilot shut the aircraft off immediately.

The crew of N818DW stated they landed on runway 21 and slowed to turn off at A7. The local controller then asked them their parking intentions. Following the crew's response, the local controller instructed them to taxi forward on the runway, turn right on A5, taxi to the ramp, and monitor the ground control frequency. The controller did not advise the crew of any traffic on the taxiway. The crew said they turned off runway 21 on A5, and the first officer was looking down at the pedestal changing radio frequencies just as they crossed the hold bars. The crew reported that they did not see the Piper PA-28 on taxiway alpha. The crew of N818DW informed the ground controller of the accident and requested to taxi clear of the area. The ground controller instructed N818DW to taxi to its respective parking area.

After review of the control tower frequency voice recordings and controller statements, N4188E was issued a taxi clearance for parking by ground control at 1722. N818DW was issued a landing clearance for runway 21 at 1722 and a taxi clearance for parking at 1723 by local control. According to the local controller's statement, they coordinated with the ground controller to taxi N818DW for parking prior to issuing the taxi clearance. At 1724, N818DW informed ground control that their nose was struck by the wing of N4188E. There is no indication on the tower frequency voice recordings that the controllers issued traffic information or hold short instructions to the aircraft they were in communications with. Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65 specifically states that local controllers and ground controllers shall exchange information as necessary for the safe and efficient use of airport runways and movement areas. Local controllers and ground controllers shall protect any runway/taxiway/ramp intersection if an aircraft is required to enter that intersection to clear the landing runway.