Incident Details
At an airport, a Cessna 172K, registration N711GT, taxied onto the active runway for departure. The pilot of the Cessna failed to see a Pitts S-2B, registration N83TH, that was on final approach to the same runway. The pilot of the Pitts stated that he did not observe the Cessna taxi onto the runway due to the poor forward visibility inherent in the Pitts aircraft. During the landing flare, the Pitts struck the left wing and fuselage of the Cessna. Both aircraft came to rest approximately 300 feet from the approach end of the runway.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The Cessna 172K (N711GT) was preparing for departure. The Pitts S-2B (N83TH) was on final approach. The pilot of the Cessna did not possess a valid pilot certificate nor a valid medical certificate at the time of the incident.
Sequence of Events
The accident sequence began when the Cessna pilot taxied onto the active runway, presumably for departure, without scanning for traffic on final approach. The Pitts pilot, hindered by the aircraft's limited forward view, did not see the Cessna. The collision occurred during the final phase of the Pitts's landing, when the aircraft were in close proximity to the runway surface. After impact, both airplanes slid to a stop about 300 feet from the approach end of the runway.