- Date
- July 27, 2019, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Gaithersburg, MD
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionTaxi-from runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 3, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA reports
- 20190727008061I20190727008052A
- Case key
- 99968
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 other pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the airplane while taxiing.
The flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from the other airplane while taxiing.
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.
N13796 · Cessna 172
N38657 · Piper PA28
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.
N13796 · Cessna 172
N38657 · Piper PA28
Analysis
The pilot of the Piper reported that, after landing and 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 in 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 the Piper taxi past him and believed he had adequate clearance, so he continued to maneuver and turned left onto the taxiway. While the instructor simultaneously instructed the passenger while taxiing, the Cessna's left wingtip 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. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot of the Piper reported that, after landing and 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 in 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 the Piper taxi past him and believed he had adequate clearance, so he continued to maneuver and turned left onto the taxiway. While the instructor simultaneously instructed the passenger while taxiing, the Cessna's left wingtip 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. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
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.
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.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N13796
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (M)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263006
- Built
- 1974
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- GAI · Gaithersburg, MD
- Destination
- GAI · Gaithersburg, MD
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- GAI · Montgomery County Airpark, runway 32, 4,202 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- ADS-B, 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.
- Registration
- N38657
- Reported as
- Piper PA28 (181)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7790574
- Built
- 1977
- Engine
- Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- WIFA (Washington International Flight ACAD LLC)
- Registered owner
- WIFA (Washington International Flight ACAD LLC)
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- GAI · Gaithersburg, MD
- Destination
- GAI · Gaithersburg, MD
- Flight plan
- VFR/IFR
- Airport
- GAI · Montgomery County Airpark, runway 32, 4,202 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- Flight instructor, aircraft N13796
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 13, 2019
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 945 total · 650 in this make and model · 831 as pilot in command · 153 in the last 90 days · 91 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N38657
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 28, 2019
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 419 total · 225 in this make and model · 320 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.28 inHg
- Observed at
- KGAI
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.7 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.