GAA18CA275

NTSB accident investigation · Aeropro CZ S R O A240 · Chandler, AZ · May 11, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 11, 2018, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
Place
Chandler, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N481BAeropro CZ S R O A240N4121TPiper PA 28
Defining events
Taxi: Ground collisionTaxi: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 18, 2019
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
Case key
97238

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to stop and yield to the airplane taxiing on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.

The other pilot’s failure to stop and yield to the airplane taxiing on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N481B · Aeropro CZ S R O A240

Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilancePersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftAeropro CZ S R O A240: 1 caseAll aircraft: 330 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationAeropro CZ S R O A240: 1 caseAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause

N4121T · Piper PA 28

Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiper PA-28-161: 3 casesAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

According to the pilot in the low-wing airplane, he was cleared by ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." Taxiway Alpha runs parallel to runway 22R. The pilot approached taxiway Alpha via taxiway Mike, and before entering the intersection of taxiways Alpha and Mike, he "looked in all directions for aircraft" and then proceeded to turn left onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. His airplane's right wing collided with the left side of another airplane already taxiing via Alpha to 22R. He asserted that the other airplane was moving very fast when the collision occurred. His airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. According to the student pilot in the high-wing airplane, he received clearance from ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." He recalled that he was established on Alpha and heading toward 22R with his landing lights on. He saw the low-wing airplane approaching the intersection of taxiway Alpha and Mike from the nonmovement area. He reported that the low-wing airplane turned left onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. The low-wing airplane's right wing collided with the left side of his airplane. His airplane sustained damage to the left-wing lift strut, the left-wing support struts, and the windscreen. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

According to the pilot in the low-wing airplane, he was cleared by ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." Taxiway Alpha runs parallel to runway 22R. The pilot approached taxiway Alpha via taxiway Mike, and before entering the intersection of taxiways Alpha and Mike, he "looked in all directions for aircraft" and then proceeded to turn left onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. His airplane's right wing collided with the left side of another airplane already taxiing via Alpha to 22R. He asserted that the other airplane was moving very fast when the collision occurred. His airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. According to the student pilot in the high-wing airplane, he received clearance from ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." He recalled that he was established on Alpha and heading toward 22R with his landing lights on. He saw the low-wing airplane approaching the intersection of taxiway Alpha and Mike from the nonmovement area. He reported that the low-wing airplane turned left onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. The low-wing airplane's right wing collided with the left side of his airplane. His airplane sustained damage to the left-wing lift strut, the left-wing support struts, and the windscreen. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the low-wing airplane, he was cleared by ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." Taxiway Alpha runs parallel to runway 22R. The pilot approached taxiway Alpha via taxiway Mike, and before entering the intersection of taxiways Alpha and Mike, he "looked in all directions for aircraft" and then proceeded to make a left turn onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. His airplane's right wing collided with the left side of another airplane already taxing via Alpha to 22R. He asserted that the other airplane was moving very fast when the collision occurred. His airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. According to the student pilot in the high wing airplane, he received clearance from ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." He recalled that he was established on Alpha and heading toward 22R with his landing lights on. He saw the low wing airplane approaching the intersection of taxiway Alpha and Mike from the non-movement area. He reported that the low-wing airplane made a left turn onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. The low-wing airplane's right wing collided with the left side of his airplane. His airplane sustained damage to the left-wing lift strut, the left wing support struts, and the windscreen. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

According to the pilot in the low-wing airplane, he was cleared by ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." Taxiway Alpha runs parallel to runway 22R. The pilot approached taxiway Alpha via taxiway Mike, and before entering the intersection of taxiways Alpha and Mike, he "looked in all directions for aircraft" and then proceeded to make a left turn onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. His airplane's right wing collided with the left side of another airplane already taxing via Alpha to 22R. He asserted that the other airplane was moving very fast when the collision occurred. His airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. According to the student pilot in the high wing airplane, he received clearance from ground control to taxi to runway 22R via "Alpha and November." He recalled that he was established on Alpha and heading toward 22R with his landing lights on. He saw the low wing airplane approaching the intersection of taxiway Alpha and Mike from the non-movement area. He reported that the low-wing airplane made a left turn onto taxiway Alpha without stopping. The low-wing airplane's right wing collided with the left side of his airplane. His airplane sustained damage to the left-wing lift strut, the left wing support struts, and the windscreen. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N481B
Reported as
Aeropro CZ S R O A240
Category
Airplane
Serial number
47816
Built
2016
Airframe hours
232
Engine
Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Special light-sport (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · June 15, 2015
Departed
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Destination
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Airport
CHD · Chandler Muni
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N4121T
Reported as
Piper PA 28 (161)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
2842017
Built
1996
Airframe hours
14,672
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Chandler Air Service Inc.
Registered owner
Chandler Air Service Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · March 14, 2018
Departed
CHD · Chandler, AZ
Destination
E60 · Eloy, AZ
Airport
CHD · Chandler Muni
Equipment
Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N481B
Age
62
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Sport pilot, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
45 total · 45 in this make and model · 24 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N4121T
Age
46
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 13, 2017
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
68 total · 14 in this make and model · 27 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 32 °F
Altimeter
29.76 inHg
Observed at
KCHD

Docket · 8

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 11.0 MB in all.