Mid-air Collision Between Two Piper Aircraft During Taxi

Casualties unknown • Nashville, TN, US

A collision occurred between a Piper PA-28 and a Piper J3C while taxiing for takeoff near an airport ramp area.

What happened

A collision involving two aircraft occurred while they were taxiing for takeoff toward the airport ramp area via taxiway R1. The first aircraft, a Piper PA-28, registration N120CC, had entered the ramp area and remained stationary.

Prior to the incident, a Cessna 172 had entered taxiway R1 and encountered oncoming traffic. To resolve the conflict, the pilot of the Cessna 172 performed a 180-degree turn to exit the taxiway and return to the ramp area.

As the pilot of the second aircraft, a Piper J3C, registration N26046, observed the Cessna 172 performing this turn, he steered to the right to clear the throat of the taxiway-to-ramp transition. During this maneuver, the propeller and left wing of the Piper J3C made contact with the left wing and propeller of the stationary Piper PA-28. The pilot of the J3C reported that he did not observe the PA-28 had entered the ramp area and was unable to stop the aircraft before the impact occurred.

Probable cause

The pilot of the Piper J3C failed to see the stationary Piper PA-28 in the ramp area and was unable to stop the aircraft before the collision occurred.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1996-03-23 Piper J3C-65 accident near Nashville, TN?

A collision occurred between a Piper PA-28 and a Piper J3C while taxiing for takeoff near an airport ramp area.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1996-03-23 involved a Piper J3C-65, registration N26046, at Nashville, TN.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot of the Piper J3C failed to see the stationary Piper PA-28 in the ramp area and was unable to stop the aircraft before the collision occurred.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05363. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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