No fatalities

Cargo Plane Strikes Parked Aircraft During Taxi Due to Windscreen Condensation

Omaha, NE, United States

On September 22, 2009, a CESSNA 402B operated by DAEDALUS INC DBA was involved in an aviation accident near Omaha, NE. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper decision to taxi with an obstructed windscreen and his failure to maintain clearance from the parked airplane. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine cargo airplane struck an unattended aircraft while taxiing after the pilot opened the crew door to improve visibility obscured by windscreen condensation.

Incident Overview

A cargo flight pilot reported for duty on a morning mission, finding the twin-engine airplane positioned with its windscreen directly facing the sun, which had caused condensation to form on the surface. Attempting to clear the moisture with his hand proved unsuccessful, as the condensation quickly reappeared. To mitigate the visibility issue, the pilot elected to begin taxiing with the left crew door open.

Taxi Maneuver and Collision

While executing a left turn onto the cargo ramp, the airplane's left wing and left propeller made contact with an unattended aircraft. The pilot responded by securing both engines and subsequently exited the airplane without assistance.

Post-Accident Examination

An inspection following the event revealed that the parked airplane had sustained structural damage to its forward nose area. The taxiing aircraft incurred structural damage to its left wing.

Operational Context

The incident occurred during the early phase of a cargo flight, with the pilot attempting to manage the condensation through alternative means after the initial cleaning effort failed. The decision to taxi with the door open was a measure to enhance forward visibility.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Response/compensationEffect on personnel