MIA97LA094

The pilot had landed and was taxiing back to the departure runway using the adjacent taxiway, when the airplane struck a tractor that was cutting grass to the left of the taxiway. The tractor was mowing along the taxiway lights and was travailing to the northeast, halfway on the hard surface and halfway into the grass. The tractor driver was approaching each light, lifting his mower, passing over the light and lowering the mower again to mow in between the lights. According to the tractor driver he was 'traveling in a straight line, and was sure he had not turned out in front of the approaching airplane.' At the time of impact the driver stated that he was watching the mower and did not see the airplane until after the impact. The airplane approached the tractor from behind and he was unaware that it was coming until it hit the tractor. A witness said, '...I saw aircraft N4345C, taxing on the taxiway parallel to runway 21 and 3...toward runway 21, at an excessive rate of speed, and the tractor mowing at the side of the taxiway was going in the same direction, when the aircraft hit the back of the tractor, with the left wing without trying to slow down or stop....'

On March 4, 1997, about 1450 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N4345C, registered to Consolidated Flying Service Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, personal local flight, crashed while taxiing for takeoff near Tampa, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured.

The pilot had landed on runway 21 and was taxiing back to the departure runway using the adjacent taxiway. The pilot stated that he was "in the process of passing" a tractor that was cutting grass to the left of the taxiway, he "slowed the plane to about 10 knot...moved over to the right to allow...clearance to pass when suddenly the tractor veered onto the taxiway by about 6 feet causing me to make contact hitting the left wing tip against the right front tire...." The airplane then swung around, coming to a stop facing the tractor.

According to the FAA inspector's, Statement of Interview with the tractor driver, he was mowing along the taxiway lights and was travailing to the northeast. The tractor was "halfway on the hard surface and halfway into the grass." The tractor driver stated that he was using the left mower to mow around the taxi lights, and that, "...he would approach each light, lift his mower, pass over the light and lower the mower again to mow in between the lights...traveling in a straight line, and was sure he had not turned out in front of the approaching airplane." The driver stated that he was watching the mower and did not see the airplane until after the impact. The airplane had approached his tractor from behind and he was "unaware that it was coming until it hit the tractor."

A witness said, "...I saw aircraft N4345C, taxing on the taxiway parallel to runway 21 and 3...toward runway 21, at an excessive rate of speed, and the tractor mowing at the side of the taxiway was going in the same direction, when the aircraft hit the back of the tractor, with the left wing without trying to slow down or stop...."