Incident Overview
A collision occurred on taxiway Delta between two airplanes. One airplane was holding short of taxiway Alpha on taxiway Delta, awaiting further taxi instructions. The pilot of that airplane had accumulated 25,500 flight hours.
The other airplane, operated by a pilot with 27,996 flight hours, had just exited the active runway onto taxiway Delta. According to the pilot's statement, after exiting, he switched to 119.35 MHz, the ground control frequency indicated on his Jeppesen IFR Flight Star printout and GPS. Upon calling on that frequency, he was informed that the correct ground control frequency was 118.35 MHz.
Sequence of Events
After switching to the correct frequency, the pilot heard an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) beacon. Believing the signal was coming from his own airplane, he attempted to reset the ELT while continuing to taxi straight ahead. As a result, his airplane struck the other airplane that was holding short on taxiway Delta. The collision occurred while the holding airplane was stationary.
Contributing Circumstances
The pilot's use of an incorrect initial frequency led to a delay in ground communication. The subsequent distraction caused by the ELT beacon, which the pilot mistakenly thought originated from his aircraft, diverted his attention from taxiing. The pilot's attempt to reset the ELT while the airplane was in motion resulted in a failure to maintain situational awareness and avoid the stationary aircraft ahead.
Note: The accident report was modified on April 10, 2008, but no further details regarding the revision are provided in the source.