SEA00LA180

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 172L · Everett, WA · September 16, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 16, 2000, 10:33 local (17:33 UTC)
Place
Everett, WA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N7195QCessna 172LN52746Cessna 182P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 18, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
50291

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 other pilot's improper use (inadvertent release) of the brakes. Contributing factors were, a standing aircraft and the other pilot's diverting his attention from outside his aircraft.

The pilot's improper use (inadvertent release) of the brakes. Contributing factors were, a standing aircraft and the pilot's diverting his attention from outside his aircraft.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi - to takeoff
Object - aircraft parked/standingFactor
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
Diverted attentionPilot in commandFactor
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Standing - engine(s) operating
Object - aircraft parked/standingFactor
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot of other aircraftCause
Diverted attentionPilot of other aircraftFactor

Analysis

A Cessna 182P and a Cessna 172L were within a lineup of aircraft anticipating takeoff. The 182P was about 10-15 feet ahead of the 172L, and both aircraft were stopped on the taxiway. The pilot of the 172L focused his attention on setting up radio frequencies for his departure route, and when he looked up realized his aircraft was rolling forward. He applied braking and right rudder to swing the nose of his aircraft to the right during which the propeller of his aircraft struck the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the 182P. The pilot of the 182P felt a vibration, looked back, and observed the 172L behind him stopped with its propeller into the right elevator of his aircraft. The pilot of the 172L radioed the tower reporting, 'Ah, I just clipped the plane in front of me. My brakes slipped and I just crashed into his elevator.' He also reported no mechanical malfunction with his aircraft.

A Cessna 182P and a Cessna 172L were within a lineup of aircraft anticipating takeoff. The 182P was about 10-15 feet ahead of the 172L, and both aircraft were stopped on the taxiway. The pilot of the 172L focused his attention on setting up radio frequencies for his departure route, and when he looked up realized his aircraft was rolling forward. He applied braking and right rudder to swing the nose of his aircraft to the right during which the propeller of his aircraft struck the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the 182P. The pilot of the 182P felt a vibration, looked back, and observed the 172L behind him stopped with its propeller into the right elevator of his aircraft. The pilot of the 172L radioed the tower reporting, 'Ah, I just clipped the plane in front of me. My brakes slipped and I just crashed into his elevator.' He also reported no mechanical malfunction with his aircraft.

Factual narrative

On September 16, 2000, at 1033 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N7195Q, registered to and being operated by a commercial pilot, sustained minor damage when it collided with a Cessna 182P, N52746, while rolling forward in a lineup of aircraft on taxiway A-4 at the Snohomish County airport (PAE), Everett, Washington. The pilot was uninjured, as was the pilot of the impacted 182P. The 182P sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed for either aircraft. Both aircraft were departing as personal flights, and were operating under 14CFR91, and both were destined for Eastsound, Washington.

Both pilots were telephonically interviewed. The pilot of the 172L reported that while taxing forward in a line of aircraft, he stopped his aircraft about 10-15 feet behind the 182P directly ahead. He then awaited further movement of the other aircraft ahead in the lineup for takeoff, and focused his attention on setting up radio frequencies in anticipation of transiting the Whidbey Island, Washington, area following his departure from PAE. When he looked up, he noted that his aircraft was rolling forward. He reported applying brakes and right rudder, which swung the nose of his aircraft to the right, but not before the propeller contacted the 182P's right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. He reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with his aircraft at the time of the event.

The pilot of the 182P reported that he was stopped in a lineup of aircraft awaiting takeoff on runway 16R when he felt a vibration. He looked back and observed the aircraft behind him stopped with its propeller into the right elevator of his aircraft.

An audio re-recording of radio communications between the Snohomish County air traffic control tower and the related aircraft was reviewed. As the tower controller received acknowledgement from another aircraft to position and hold, the radio transmission was blocked by another transmission reporting, "Ah, I just clipped the plane in front of me. My brakes slipped and I just crashed into his elevator."

On September 16, 2000, at 1033 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172L, N7195Q, registered to and being operated by a commercial pilot, sustained minor damage when it collided with a Cessna 182P, N52746, while rolling forward in a lineup of aircraft on taxiway A-4 at the Snohomish County airport (PAE), Everett, Washington. The pilot was uninjured, as was the pilot of the impacted 182P. The 182P sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed for either aircraft. Both aircraft were departing as personal flights, and were operating under 14CFR91, and both were destined for Eastsound, Washington.

Both pilots were telephonically interviewed. The pilot of the 172L reported that while taxing forward in a line of aircraft, he stopped his aircraft about 10-15 feet behind the 182P directly ahead. He then awaited further movement of the other aircraft ahead in the lineup for takeoff, and focused his attention on setting up radio frequencies in anticipation of transiting the Whidbey Island, Washington, area following his departure from PAE. When he looked up, he noted that his aircraft was rolling forward. He reported applying brakes and right rudder, which swung the nose of his aircraft to the right, but not before the propeller contacted the 182P's right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. He reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with his aircraft at the time of the event.

The pilot of the 182P reported that he was stopped in a lineup of aircraft awaiting takeoff on runway 16R when he felt a vibration. He looked back and observed the aircraft behind him stopped with its propeller into the right elevator of his aircraft.

An audio re-recording of radio communications between the Snohomish County air traffic control tower and the related aircraft was reviewed. As the tower controller received acknowledgement from another aircraft to position and hold, the radio transmission was blocked by another transmission reporting, "Ah, I just clipped the plane in front of me. My brakes slipped and I just crashed into his elevator."

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N7195Q
Reported as
Cessna 172L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17260495
Airframe hours
4,004
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Kinnier, Richard R.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
AAIP · August 16, 2000 · 26 hours before
Destination
ORS · Eastsound, WA
Airport
PAE · Snohomish County Airport

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
N52746
Reported as
Cessna 182P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18262815
Engine
Continental O-470-R35, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Hill, Gary G.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 15, 2000
Destination
ORS · Eastsound, WA
Airport
PAE · Snohomish County Airport

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 N7195Q
Age
69
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,575 total · 1,209 in this make and model · 1,429 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N52746
Age
63
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,225 total · 102 in this make and model · 1,225 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,400 ft overcast
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
PAE