ERA11LA361

A Beech A60 and a Cozy Mark IV collided at the intersection of two taxiways shortly after air traffic control tower operations had resumed. The pilot of the Beech had landed and was taxiing to the hangar area via taxiways L and C. He stated that he noticed the Cozy behind a hold short line for taxiway L then diverted his attention to the north; he contacted the local controller, who advised him to contact the ground controller. In the meantime, the ground controller advised the Cozy pilot to proceed on taxiway L then A toward the takeoff area. Shortly thereafter, before the Beech pilot could contact the ground controller, the left propeller of the Beech A60 contacted the right wing of the Cozy. Although both airplanes were communicating with air traffic controllers, they were communicating with different controllers, since control had just recently resumed; therefore, the controllers’ performance was not related to the accident.

On June 26, 2011, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a Beech A60, N38N, registered to a private individual, and a Aliev Cozy MK IV, N484BD, registered to Bravo Delta, Inc., collided on the ground at Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for either flight which were operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as personal flights. The Cozy was taxiing to takeoff, and the Beech was taxiing after landing, following a local flight which departed PMP about 0740. The Cozy airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the Beech A60 sustained minor damage to the left engine cowling and propeller. The certificated airline transport pilot of the Beech airplane was not injured, and the certificated private pilot and pilot-rated passenger of the Cozy airplane also were not injured. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger of the Aliev Cozy MK IV reported obtaining the automated terminal information service (ATIS), then waited in a non-movement area for the air traffic control tower to resume normal operation. At 0800, when the tower opened, they heard a broadcast on the frequency requesting pilots of all aircraft to announce their intentions. The transcription of communications indicates the pilot-rated passenger contacted ground control on 121.9 MHz at 0800:13, and advised the controller they had the automated terminal information service (ATIS), was ready to taxi to the active runway for a northwest departure. The controller cleared them to taxi to runway 10 (active runway) via taxiways L and A, and cleared to cross runway 06. The pilot of the Cozy reported that he proceeded to turn left on taxiway Alpha and a couple of seconds later, he felt a jolt and their airplane spun to the right. At that time they saw the other airplane (Beech A60) to their right. The pilot further stated they did not hear any other communications on the ground control frequency. The pilot of the Beech A60 reported he landed on runway 10 about 0758 (before the air traffic control tower resumed normal operations), and rolled to the end of the runway where he taxied onto taxiway Echo. He then turned onto taxiway Lima, and began taxiing westbound. While on the tower frequency (125.4 MHz), before the intersection of taxiway Delta, he heard an announcement from the tower requesting all pilot's to announce their intentions. He continued taxiing westbound on taxiway Lima and waited for the pilot of another airplane (a Cessna) to communicate with the tower. While taxiing on taxiway Lima, he noticed the Cozy on the ramp south of his location behind the hold short line, and turned his attention to the north looking for traffic. The transcription of communications indicates that he advised the controller that he had just landed and was taxiing to the t-hangar area via taxiway Charlie, to which the local controller immediately advised him to contactground control on frequency 121.9 MHz. The pilot of the Beech A60 reported that after returning his focus forward from the north and immediately after being told to contact ground control, the collision occurred. The transcription of communications confirms he did not contact the ground controller. The pilot further stated that other than the pilot of the Cessna, he did not hear any other communications on the tower frequency. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector-in-charge, the airplanes collided on taxiway Lima near the intersection of taxiway Delta. He observed about 25 to 27 feet of skid marks associated with braking of the Beech A60, although he did not take any pictures. Damage to the left propeller and left engine cowling of the Beech A60 was noted, and the right wing of the Cozy Mark IV had substantial damage.