LAX95LA239

Two airplanes were converging head-on while taxiing on the same east-west taxiway. The pilot of the Cessna 182 was taxiing east and saw the tailwheel equipped great lakes 2T-1AK (biplane) 's-turning' on the taxiway. She assumed the biplane pilot saw her aircraft. As the two airplanes got closer, the Cessna pilot slowed and moved to the right side of the taxiway, so the airplanes could pass wing tip to wing tip. The westbound biplane then 's-turned' left towards the Cessna. The Cessna pilot immediately veered right and taxied off the pavement into the dirt, but the airplanes collided. After the collision, the westbound biplane pilot stated to airport officials that he never saw the Cessna. The sun was setting at the time of the collision.

On June 17, 1995, at 1715 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N4824D, collided with a Ball Great Lakes 2T-1AK, NC823K, on taxiway C at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport, Paso Robles, California. The Cessna 182A was being operated as a business flight transporting skydivers by Blue Sky Adventures of Paso Robles, under 14 CFR Part 91. The Great Lakes was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. There were no injuries to the pilot and three skydivers onboard the Cessna, and no injuries to the pilot and passenger of the Great Lakes. Both airplanes were operating locally from the Paso Robles Municipal Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The pilot of the Cessna entered taxiway C from the ramp area with the intention of taxiing east to runway 19 for departure. The Great Lakes pilot entered taxiway C and taxied west from the runway after the Cessna was already on taxiway C. The pilot of the Cessna moved to the right side of the taxiway and anticipated the pilot of the Great Lakes would do the same, allowing the airplanes to pass each other.

The pilot of the Cessna began to slow to a stop when she observed the Great Lakes pilot continue on the center of the taxiway. The Great Lakes pilot then initiated a clearing turn to the right followed by a turn to the left. The Cessna pilot immediately turned the airplane right, off the taxiway, to avoid the collision.

The flying wires of the Great Lakes left wing struck the left wing of the Cessna and became entangled. The Great Lakes then nosed down, striking the asphalt surface of the taxiway with the wooden propeller. The left wing of the Cessna was twisted as a result of the entangled flying wires of the Great Lakes.

The pilot of the Great Lakes indicated to the Paso Robles Airport manager and the Cessna pilot, that he never saw the Cessna. It was noted that the sun was beginning to set at the time of the accident.