What happened
The incident occurred at an airport where two light aircraft were operating simultaneously. The crew of a Cessna 172, registration N5742T, initiated taxi operations while the pilot and flight instructor of a Piper JC3-65, registration N25973, were completing their landing approach. As the Piper aircraft touched down and exited onto the same taxiway, it approached from the opposite direction relative to the Cessna.
The Cessna crew observed the Piper land and turn onto the shared taxiway. To facilitate safe passage for the oncoming aircraft, the Cessna pilot applied brakes and brought the aircraft to a complete stop on the edge of the taxiway. The right main wheel was positioned just on the pavement surface, leaving sufficient lateral space for the Piper to pass.
The Piper aircraft was not equipped with a radio. To improve forward visibility over the dashboard, the pilot unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned forward twice to look over the top of the instrument panel but reported seeing no obstruction ahead. When the Piper was approximately 200 feet away from the Cessna, it appeared to steer toward the gap. However, at a distance of about 50 feet, the Piper abruptly changed direction and collided with the stationary Cessna.
The Cessna pilot confirmed that his aircraft had been stopped with brakes applied for approximately 20 seconds prior to the impact. Both aircraft sustained only minor damage. No injuries were reported among the occupants of either aircraft.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that both aircraft suffered structural damage consistent with a low-speed collision. The Cessna 172 had been stationary for a significant period before the impact, eliminating the possibility of unexpected movement as a contributing factor. The Piper pilot's attempt to visually clear the path was unsuccessful due to limited visibility over the dashboard.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the Piper pilot's failure to maintain adequate situational awareness while taxiing. Despite stopping the Cessna to allow passage, the Piper pilot did not accurately judge the position of the stationary aircraft or his own flight path. The lack of radio communication prevented coordination between the two crews regarding their intentions on the taxiway.
The Cessna crew followed standard procedures by yielding and stopping to allow the other aircraft to pass safely. The collision resulted from the Piper pilot's misjudgment of distance and direction while attempting to navigate around the stopped Cessna.