GAA19CA346

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Greenville, TX · June 11, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 11, 2019, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place
Greenville, TX
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N152TRCessna 152N6132QCessna 152
Defining events
Taxi-to runway: Airport occurrenceTaxi: Airport occurrence
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 13, 2020
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
Case key
99643

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

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Probable cause

The passing pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the airplane that he was attempting to pass during taxi operations. Contributing to the accident was the passing pilot's distraction due to looking at his on-board navigation device while attempting to pass the other airplane.

The passing pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the airplane that he was attempting to pass during taxi operations. Contributing to the accident was the passing pilot's distraction due to looking at his on-board navigation device while attempting to pass the other airplane.

Findings · 6

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.

N152TR · Cessna 152

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftCessna 152: 8 casesAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationCessna 152: 3 casesAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause
Attention/monitoring: attentionPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftCessna 152: 4 casesAll aircraft: 226 casesProbable cause

N6132Q · Cessna 152

Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationCessna 152: 3 casesAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause
Attention/monitoring: attentionPersonnel issues › Psychological · PilotCessna 152: 4 casesAll aircraft: 226 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 a flight school representative, two solo, pilot-rated students were performing pilot-in-command, skills-building training flights. The pilots were taxiing their airplanes to the runway when the pilot in the lead airplane pulled to the right side of the taxiway to allow the pilot in the other airplane to pass. The pilot of the passing airplane was looking at his onboard navigation device as he attempted to pass on the left side of the lead airplane, and his airplane's right wing struck the lead airplane's left wing. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, exited them, and assessed the damage and determined that the damage was minimal, so they departed for the next leg of their training flight. After that flight, flight school maintenance personnel examined the airplanes and found that the lead airplane's left wing aileron and the passing airplane's three right-wing ribs had sustained substantial damage. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

According to a flight school representative, two solo pilot-rated students were performing pilot-in-command, skills-building training flights. The pilots were taxiing their airplanes to the runway when the pilot in the lead airplane pulled to the right side of the taxiway to allow the pilot in the other airplane to pass. The pilot of the passing airplane was looking at his onboard navigation device as he attempted to pass on the left side of the lead airplane, and his airplane's right wing struck the lead airplane's left wing. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, exited them, and assessed the damage and determined that the damage was minimal, so they departed for the next leg of their training flight. After that flight, flight school maintenance personnel examined the airplanes and found that the lead airplane's left wing aileron and the passing airplane's three right-wing ribs had sustained substantial damage. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

According to a representative of the flight school, both airplanes were operated single pilot, by pilot rated students performing separate pilot in command skills building training flights. Both airplanes landed at the same airport after a short cross-country flight. Following a short break, the pilots entered their respective airplanes and taxied to the runway. The pilot in the lead airplane pulled to the right side of the taxiway to allow the following airplane to pass. The pilot of the following airplane was looking at his onboard navigation device as he attempted to pass on the left side of the lead airplane, and his right wing struck the left wing of the lead airplane. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, exited and assessed the damage. Both pilots determined that the damage was inconsequential and departed for the next leg of their training flight. Further examination by the flight school's maintenance department, revealed that substantial damage was sustained to the left wing aileron of the stationary airplane, and to three right-wing ribs of the passing airplane. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

According to a representative of the flight school, both airplanes were operated single pilot, by pilot rated students performing separate pilot in command skills building training flights. Both airplanes landed at the same airport after a short cross-country flight. Following a short break, the pilots entered their respective airplanes and taxied to the runway. The pilot in the lead airplane pulled to the right side of the taxiway to allow the following airplane to pass. The pilot of the following airplane was looking at his onboard navigation device as he attempted to pass on the left side of the lead airplane, and his right wing struck the left wing of the lead airplane. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, exited and assessed the damage. Both pilots determined that the damage was inconsequential and departed for the next leg of their training flight. Further examination by the flight school's maintenance department, revealed that substantial damage was sustained to the left wing aileron of the stationary airplane, and to three right-wing ribs of the passing airplane. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N152TR
Reported as
Cessna 152 (No Series)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15281247
Built
1978
Airframe hours
14,851.7
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Us Aviation Group Llc
Registered owner
Us Aviation Group Llc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 6, 2019
Departed
GVT · Greenville, TX
Destination
GYI · Sherman/Denison, TX
Airport
GVT · Majors Airport
Equipment
ADS-B

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
N6132Q
Reported as
Cessna 152 (No Series)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15285156
Built
1981
Airframe hours
17,993.9
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
U S Aviation Group Llc
Registered owner
U S Aviation Group Llc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
GVT · Greenville, TX
Destination
GYI · Sherman/Denison, TX
Airport
GVT · Majors Airport
Equipment
ADS-B

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 N152TR
Age
21
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 22, 2019
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
91 total · 83 in this make and model · 29 as pilot in command · 53 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N6132Q
Age
21
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
May 24, 2019
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
79.5 total · 73.5 in this make and model · 40.4 in the last 90 days · 17.2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
9,500 ft broken
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.06 inHg
Observed at
KGVT

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.4 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.