GAA19CA468

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172 · Gaithersburg, MD · July 27, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 27, 2019, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC)
Place
Gaithersburg, MD
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N13796Cessna 172N38657Piper PA28
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
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

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilotCessna 172M: 8 casesAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationCessna 172M: 5 casesAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause

N38657 · Piper PA28

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftPiper PA-28-181: 6 casesAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiper PA-28-181: 5 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.

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.