What happened
The incident occurred while a single-engine aircraft was taxiing from the south end of the ramp area toward the active runway. As the aircraft progressed along the taxiway, a twin-engine aircraft entered the same taxiway from the right side, positioning itself directly in front of the single-engine plane.
The pilot of the single-engine aircraft failed to see the twin-engine aircraft in time to avoid contact. Upon impact, the single-engine aircraft struck the rear or side of the twin-engine aircraft that had just taxied into its path. The primary factor contributing to the collision was the condition of the single-engine aircraft's windscreen, which was fogged at the time of the incident. This obstruction significantly impaired the pilot's forward visibility, preventing the detection of the other aircraft until it was too late to take evasive action.
The investigation
Examination of the event focused on the taxiway geometry and the visual conditions present during the maneuver. Investigators noted that the twin-engine aircraft had successfully entered the taxiway from a right-hand intersection or ramp exit. The critical finding related to the single-engine aircraft was the state of its cockpit glazing. The windscreen was fogged, creating a barrier to clear vision for the pilot.
Findings
The collision resulted from a failure in situational awareness by the pilot of the single-engine aircraft. Contributing factors included:
- Aircraft registration details were recorded for both involved planes, though specific tail numbers are not provided in this summary text.
- The fogged windscreen on the single-engine aircraft severely limited the pilot's ability to see the taxiway ahead.
- The twin-engine aircraft entered the taxiway from the right, crossing the path of the single-engine plane without adequate clearance or visibility for the other pilot.
The lack of clear vision due to the fogged windscreen was the decisive element that prevented the pilot from avoiding the collision with the twin-engine aircraft. No further mechanical failures or weather conditions were cited as primary causes in this specific narrative.