N11498

On May 26, 1998, at 1808 central daylight time (cdt), a Mooney M20J, N11498, and a Barr Eagle II, N60HB, collided while taxiing to the ramp at the Lincoln Municipal Airport, Lincoln, Nebraska. The Mooney M20J, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage. The Barr Eagle II, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained minor damage. Both pilots and their passengers, one on each airplane, reported no injures from the accident. N11498 departed from Alexandria, Minnesota, at 1600 cdt and N60HB's flight originated at Seward, Nebraska, at 1705 cdt. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. There was an IFR flight plan on file for the Mooney M20J. There was no flight plan on file for the Barr Eagle II.

At 1802:51, N60HB was cleared to land on runway 14. The pilot requested a long landing which was approved by the local controller.

At 1803:52, N11498 was cleared to land on runway 17L.

At 1806:02, N60HB was instructed to turn left on kilo and to hold short of runway 17L.

At 1807:08, N11498 was instructed to turn left at kilo and to contact ground control.

At 1807:24, N60HB was instructed to cross runway 17L and to monitor ground.

At 1807:31, N11498 contacted ground control and was instructed to taxi straight ahead to the east ramp.

At 1808:04, the pilot of N11498 informed the ground controller that his airplane was just hit by another airplane.

At 1808:28, the pilot of N60HB informed that they had "...rear ended the mooney here on kilo."

The pilot of N11498 stated he landed on runway 17L and turned off the runway onto taxiway Kilo. He reported that after exiting the runway he stopped briefly to contact ground control. The pilot reported that after obtaining his taxi clearance he was beginning to proceed to the ramp when he was "...hit from behind by the propeller of a Christian Eagle... ."

The pilot of N60HB reported that after landing on runway 14 she was instructed to turn left and to hold short of runway 17L. She stated that she came to a complete stop at runway 17L and "Almost immediately, Tower cleared me to cross 17L and to monitor ground." The pilot stated that runway 14 is lower then runway 17L and once she reached the top of the crest in runway 17L she reduced the throttle. She stated she also switched the radio to Ground Control upon reaching the top of the crest. The pilot stated she did not hear anything and she began an "S" turn at which time she saw the tail of the Mooney. She reported she reduced the throttle and applied the brakes. The propeller of N60HB contacted the elevator of N11498. She stated, "I never heard any talk about the Mooney on Tower or Ground, nor did I see him land."

Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control Handbook, 7110.65L, Section 2-1-1 states, "The primary purpose of the ATC system is to prevent a collision between aircraft operating in the system and to organize and expedite the flow of traffic."

The Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), Section 4-3-18, dated February 26, 1998, states, "Although an ATC clearance is issued for taxiing purposes, when operating in accordance with the FAR's, it is the responsibility of the pilot to avoid collision with other aircraft." Section 4- 3-20 of the AIM states, "The tower will issue instructions required to resolve any potential conflictions with other ground traffic prior to advising the pilot to contact ground control."