Incident Overview
A Cessna 172 and a Piper PA-31 were involved in a ground collision while taxiing. The Cessna sustained substantial damage, while the Piper was not damaged. The collision occurred as the Cessna was taxiing for takeoff and the Piper was taxiing to park.
Pilot Reports
According to the pilot of the Cessna, he was taxiing northbound on taxiway Delta en route to runway 19L. As he passed the intersection with taxiway Romeo, a Piper turning left from Romeo onto Delta struck the aft portion of his airplane's left wing. In an attempt to avoid the collision, he applied full right rudder and heavy braking, but the right propeller of the converging Piper struck the left wing of his Cessna.
The Piper pilot stated that while making a left turn from taxiway Romeo onto taxiway Delta, she heard a passenger seated in the rear right side of the airplane yell: "To your right, to your right." Subsequently, the right propeller of the taxiing Piper struck the Cessna's left wing.
Contributing Factors
Both pilots commented that construction activity in the area complicated taxi operations. Both pilots acknowledged that the area where the collision took place was considered "uncontrolled" by FAA air traffic ground controllers.