Incident Overview
Two Piper PA-32 airplanes, N76RL and N31657, collided while taxiing on the airport ramp. The operators of each airplane have adjacent loading areas on the ramp.
Sequence of Events
The pilot of N76RL, holding an airline transport certificate, was preparing to depart on a cargo flight. The airplane was parked at the operator's ramp area and was being fueled by a fuel truck positioned in front of the aircraft. The fuel truck blocked the pilot's view of the ramp. After the fuel truck pulled away, the pilot started the engine and applied engine power to begin taxiing from the parking spot. The pilot indicated that he saw no other airplanes due to the high nose angle of his airplane.
Meanwhile, the pilot of N31657, holding a commercial certificate, was taxiing from landing to the ramp area, headed for a parking spot adjacent to N76RL. He did not see N76RL due to the position of the fuel truck. As N31657 was approaching its parking spot, the pilot began a right turn. At the same time, the fuel truck pulled away, revealing N76RL pulling out of its parking spot. The pilot of N31657 tightened his right turn, but the propeller of N76RL sliced into the leading edge of N31657's left wing.
Damage
N76RL received minor damage, while N31657 received substantial damage.