On August 24, 1989, a Beech A-36 (registration N4534S) operated by Mitchell Budman was involved in an aviation accident near Charleston, SC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OTHER PARKED AIRCRAFT WHILE TAXIING. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Beech A-36 struck a parked Cessna 425 while taxiing, causing substantial damage to the Beech's left wing and minor damage to the Cessna's radome. Photo evidence indicated sufficient clearance to avoid the collision.
Incident Overview
During taxi for takeoff, a Beech A-36 collided with a parked Cessna 425. The impact resulted in substantial structural damage to the left wing assembly of the Beech A-36. The parked Cessna 425 sustained minor damage to its radome.
Pilot Account
The pilot of the Beech A-36 stated that he was following the yellow taxi line at the time of the collision. He reported that the Cessna 425 was positioned approximately 14 feet forward of its normally parked location, which he believed contributed to the collision.
Investigation Findings
A review of photographs taken after the incident revealed that the area to the right of the yellow taxi line provided ample clearance for the Beech A-36 to maneuver around the parked Cessna 425. The investigation determined that the pilot had sufficient space to avoid the collision by steering to the right of the taxi line.