Summary
On July 27, 2019, a Piper PA28 (N38657) was involved in an incident near Gaithersburg, MD. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the other airplane while taxiing.
The pilot of the Piper reported that, after landing, while taxiing back to his parking spot, he saw a Cessna holding short at the intersection to the same taxiway. He did not see the Cessna move so he continued to taxi but then felt a "strong impact" as his airplane passed the Cessna.
The flight instructor of the Cessna reported that he was taking a passenger on a familiarization flight. After clearing the taxiway from the ramp, he maneuvered the Cessna to the taxiway intersection. He then saw a Piper airplane taxi past him and believed he had adequate clearance, so he continued to maneuver and turned left on to the taxiway. While simultaneously instructing the passenger during the movement, the Cessna's left-wing tip impacted the Piper's engine and left aileron.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA468. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N38657.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the other airplane while taxiing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot of the Piper reported that, after landing, while taxiing back to his parking spot, he saw a Cessna holding short at the intersection to the same taxiway. He did not see the Cessna move so he continued to taxi but then felt a "strong impact" as his airplane passed the Cessna.
The flight instructor of the Cessna reported that he was taking a passenger on a familiarization flight. After clearing the taxiway from the ramp, he maneuvered the Cessna to the taxiway intersection. He then saw a Piper airplane taxi past him and believed he had adequate clearance, so he continued to maneuver and turned left on to the taxiway. While simultaneously instructing the passenger during the movement, the Cessna's left-wing tip impacted the Piper's engine and left aileron. The instructor added that he should have waited for the Piper to pass the airplane and should have spent more time briefing the passenger to reduce task saturation.
The Piper sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. The Cessna sustained minor damage to the lower engine cowling and propeller.
The flight instructor and the pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA19CA468