Accident Overview
On April 4, 2010, at about 1015 Hawaiian standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 (registration N61384) taxied into a parked Cessna at Honolulu International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. The airplane was operated by Pacific Air Charters under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured; the Piper sustained substantial damage. The cross-country flight was taxiing to the departure runway for a planned destination of Lihue, on the island of Kauai. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Witness Account
A witness, who was also a pilot, reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he observed the Piper taxi into a parked Cessna. After the collision, the pilot of the Piper exited the airplane and was visibly shaken. When the witness asked what happened, the pilot responded that he was just not "paying attention and was occupied with adjusting radios and instruments."
Pilot and Operator Statements
In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he was taxiing to runway 04R when his airplane collided with an occupied, parked Cessna. In a written statement, the Chief Pilot for the operator stated that the pilot was taxiing from refueling to a hangar area. During taxi, the airplane encountered a gust of wind channeling between hangars, and the pilot lost directional control. The airplane veered left into a parked airplane. The Chief Pilot noted that the taxiway surface was wet from a light rain.
Weather Conditions
A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for Honolulu International Airport, issued at 0953, indicated winds from 060 degrees at 13 knots, with a note that peak wind at 0940 was 050 degrees at 29 knots.
Physical Evidence
An FAA inspector from the Honolulu Flight Standards District Office who responded to the accident site stated that the Piper left two distinct skid marks, which appeared to be a result of hard braking. The right skid mark measured 118 inches, and the left skid mark measured 72 inches.