- Date
- October 30, 2007, 08:41 local (15:41 UTC)
- Place
- Phoenix, AZ
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA reports
- 20071030827801A20071030827962A
- Case key
- 66994
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 failure of the solo student pilot operating the other airplane to maintain clearance while taxiing for takeoff.
The solo student pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the other airplane while taxiing for takeoff.
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.
Analysis
The first airplane was in the run up area adjacent to taxiway C1 at the end of runway 07. The second airplane was holding short of runway 07 on taxiway C1, in front of the first airplane. The local controller asked the solo student pilot of the first airplane if he was on taxiway C2, and the student pilot erroneously responded that he was on C2. The controller cleared the first airplane for takeoff. The student pilot taxied forward and attempted to maneuver around the second airplane in order to reach the runway. The right wing of the first airplane passed under the left wing of the second airplane and then contacted the propeller of the second airplane. Contact with the propeller severed the outboard 1 foot of the right wing of the first airplane.
The first airplane was in the run up area adjacent to taxiway C1 at the end of runway 07. The second airplane was holding short of runway 07 on taxiway C1, in front of the first airplane. The local controller asked the solo student pilot of the first airplane if he was on taxiway C2, and the student pilot erroneously responded that he was on C2. The controller cleared the first airplane for takeoff. The student pilot taxied forward and attempted to maneuver around the second airplane in order to reach the runway. The right wing of the first airplane passed under the left wing of the second airplane and then contacted the propeller of the second airplane. Contact with the propeller severed the outboard 1 foot of the right wing of the first airplane.
Factual narrative
On October 30, 2007, about 0841 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N309PA, was taxiing for takeoff when it collided with a second Piper PA-28-181, N923PA, that was standing with its engine operating at Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The first PA-28, N309PA, sustained substantial damage, and the second PA-28, N923PA, sustained minor damage. There were no injuries to the student pilot, the sole occupant of the first PA-28, or to the flight instructor and student pilot, the two occupants of the second PA-28. Both airplanes were being operated by Pan Am International Flight Academy of Phoenix as instructional flights under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for the planned local flights, which were originating when the accident occurred.
Information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the scene of the accident and the pilots of both airplanes indicated that the first PA-28 was in the run up area adjacent to taxiway C1 at the end of runway 07. The second PA-28 was holding short of runway 07 on taxiway C1, in front of the first PA-28. The local controller asked the student pilot of the first PA-28 if he was on taxiway C2, and the student pilot responded that he was on C2. The controller cleared the first PA-28 for takeoff. The student pilot taxied forward and attempted to maneuver around the second PA-28 in order to reach the runway. The right wing of the first PA-28 passed under the left wing of the second PA-28 and then contacted the propeller of the second PA-28. Contact with the propeller severed the outboard 1 foot of the right wing of the first PA-28.
On October 30, 2007, about 0841 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N309PA, was taxiing for takeoff when it collided with a second Piper PA-28-181, N923PA, that was standing with its engine operating at Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The first PA-28, N309PA, sustained substantial damage, and the second PA-28, N923PA, sustained minor damage. There were no injuries to the student pilot, the sole occupant of the first PA-28, or to the flight instructor and student pilot, the two occupants of the second PA-28. Both airplanes were being operated by Pan Am International Flight Academy of Phoenix as instructional flights under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for the planned local flights, which were originating when the accident occurred.
Information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the scene of the accident and the pilots of both airplanes indicated that the first PA-28 was in the run up area adjacent to taxiway C1 at the end of runway 07. The second PA-28 was holding short of runway 07 on taxiway C1, in front of the first PA-28. The local controller asked the student pilot of the first PA-28 if he was on taxiway C2, and the student pilot responded that he was on C2. The controller cleared the first PA-28 for takeoff. The student pilot taxied forward and attempted to maneuver around the second PA-28 in order to reach the runway. The right wing of the first PA-28 passed under the left wing of the second PA-28 and then contacted the propeller of the second PA-28. Contact with the propeller severed the outboard 1 foot of the right wing of the first PA-28.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N309PA
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2843508
- Airframe hours
- 6,223
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pan Am International Flight Academy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · October 1, 2007
- Departed
- DVT · Phoenix, AZ
- Destination
- DVT
- Airport
- DVT · Phoenix Deer Valley
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
- N923PA
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2843277
- Airframe hours
- 7,007
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pan Am International Flight Academy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · October 1, 2007
- Departed
- DVT · Phoenix, AZ
- Destination
- DVT
- Airport
- DVT · Phoenix Deer Valley
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 · 3
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N309PA
- Age
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 34 total · 34 in this make and model · 34 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Flight instructor, aircraft N923PA
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2006
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 850 total · 554 in this make and model · 760 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot, aircraft N923PA
- Age
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13 total · 13 in this make and model · 13 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- DVT
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N309PA · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.