What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 12/27/2022 at 1200 CST, a North American/Aero Classics P-51D, s/n 122-51619, at ktme airport (houston executive) was cleared to taxi on taxiway’s c/a to runway 36. When taxiing on taxiway a, the aircraft impacted a Piper PA-46-600TP, s/n 4698178 from behind. The P-51D received minor damage to the propeller assembly and spinner, while the PA-46-600TP received substantial damage to the empennage. The P-51D aircraft was being operated as a 14 CFR part 91 flight.
The P-51D pilot stated that he was aware of two other aircraft ahead of him; the first aircraft was holding short of the runway and had been cleared to takeoff, the second aircraft (PA-46-600TP) appeared to be closer to the run-up area. The P-51D pilot continued down taxiway a, making long “s” turns and making sure to clear all aircraft ahead. As the P-51D was coming close to the run-up area, the pilot continued to make long “s” turns and as he made an “s” turn to the right the PA-46-600TP was not in sight. At that point, the P-51D made a turn to the left and was unaware that the PA-46-600TP had stopped short of the run-up area, at which time the P-51D made contact with the PA-46-600TP empennage structure. The P-51 pilot immediately shutdown and exited his aircraft and noticed that the PA-46 aircraft had continued onto the run-up area and turned towards the runway. He waved down the pilot of the PA-46 to let him know about the contact and that the PA-46 would not be able to takeoff. The P-51 “pilot began to question why the number 2 pilot (PA-46) was stopped on taxiway alpha short of the run up area. No other aircraft were in the run up area or hold short position of runway 36 for number 2 aircraft to be stopped on taxiway alpha”. At the time of the accident the weather reported at ksgr (METAR) was winds calm, visibility of 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 50, dew point 28 and altimeter at 3016.
The P-51D aircraft records indicate that the last airframe, engine and propeller 100 hour and annual inspections were completed at airframe total time: 1014.2 on March 29, 2022. The propeller was 0.0 time since overhaul. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 16 hours since the last 100 hour/annual inspections.
When the NTSB report and any other additional information become available, this report will be amended as necessary.
As the FAA filed it
ON 12/27/2022 AT 1200 CST, A NORTH AMERICAN/AERO CLASSICS P-51D, S/N 122-51619, AT KTME AIRPORT (HOUSTON EXECUTIVE) WAS CLEARED TO TAXI ON TAXIWAY’S C/A TO RUNWAY 36. WHEN TAXIING ON TAXIWAY A, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A PIPER PA-46-600TP, S/N 4698178 FROM BEHIND. THE P-51D RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY AND SPINNER, WHILE THE PA-46-600TP RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE EMPENNAGE. THE P-51D AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT.
THE P-51D PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT AHEAD OF HIM; THE FIRST AIRCRAFT WAS HOLDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND HAD BEEN CLEARED TO TAKEOFF, THE SECOND AIRCRAFT (PA-46-600TP) APPEARED TO BE CLOSER TO THE RUN-UP AREA. THE P-51D PILOT CONTINUED DOWN TAXIWAY A, MAKING LONG “S” TURNS AND MAKING SURE TO CLEAR ALL AIRCRAFT AHEAD. AS THE P-51D WAS COMING CLOSE TO THE RUN-UP AREA, THE PILOT CONTINUED TO MAKE LONG “S” TURNS AND AS HE MADE AN “S” TURN TO THE RIGHT THE PA-46-600TP WAS NOT IN SIGHT. AT THAT POINT, THE P-51D MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT AND WAS UNAWARE THAT THE PA-46-600TP HAD STOPPED SHORT OF THE RUN-UP AREA, AT WHICH TIME THE P-51D MADE CONTACT WITH THE PA-46-600TP EMPENNAGE STRUCTURE. THE P-51 PILOT IMMEDIATELY SHUTDOWN AND EXITED HIS AIRCRAFT AND NOTICED THAT THE PA-46 AIRCRAFT HAD CONTINUED ONTO THE RUN-UP AREA AND TURNED TOWARDS THE RUNWAY. HE WAVED DOWN THE PILOT OF THE PA-46 TO LET HIM KNOW ABOUT THE CONTACT AND THAT THE PA-46 WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TAKEOFF. THE P-51 “PILOT BEGAN TO QUESTION WHY THE NUMBER 2 PILOT (PA-46) WAS STOPPED ON TAXIWAY ALPHA SHORT OF THE RUN UP AREA. NO OTHER AIRCRAFT WERE IN THE RUN UP AREA OR HOLD SHORT POSITION OF RUNWAY 36 FOR NUMBER 2 AIRCRAFT TO BE STOPPED ON TAXIWAY ALPHA”. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE WEATHER REPORTED AT KSGR (METAR) WAS WINDS CALM, VISIBILITY OF 10 MILES, SKY CLEAR, TEMPERATURE 50, DEW POINT 28 AND ALTIMETER AT 3016.
THE P-51D AIRCRAFT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE LAST AIRFRAME, ENGINE AND PROPELLER 100 HOUR AND ANNUAL INSPECTIONS WERE COMPLETED AT AIRFRAME TOTAL TIME: 1014.2 ON MARCH 29, 2022. THE PROPELLER WAS 0.0 TIME SINCE OVERHAUL. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 16 HOURS SINCE THE LAST 100 HOUR/ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.
WHEN THE NTSB REPORT AND ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOME AVAILABLE, THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS NECESSARY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other aircraft in the event · 1
Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.