Incident Overview
A Piper PA-23 and a Globe GC-1B (Swift) were involved in a taxiway collision at an uncontrolled airport. The Piper PA-23 had just landed on Runway 4 and exited northbound onto a taxiway that led to the ramp. Simultaneously, the Globe Swift was departing the ramp and proceeding southbound on the same taxiway toward the runway.
Sequence of Events
The taxiway was oriented generally north-south but angled to the south-southwest, where it crossed a closed east-west runway. The Piper pilot reported observing the Swift taxiing southbound on the taxiway about 900 feet north of the closed runway. The taxiway was too narrow to accommodate both airplanes simultaneously. The Piper pilot assumed the Swift pilot would yield at the closed runway, so he continued northbound in a north-northeast direction. The Swift was equipped with a tailwheel. The Swift pilot stated he was using S-turns to see forward. The Swift pilot did not yield at the closed runway but continued southbound in a south-southeast direction. By the time the Piper pilot realized that the Swift had not stopped, the two airplanes were converging.
Pilot Actions
The Piper pilot took evasive action by turning to the right; however, the left wingtip of each airplane collided. The collision occurred about 450 feet south of the closed runway. The Swift pilot stated he did not see the Piper PA-23 until moments before the collision.