Incident Overview
A ground collision occurred between two general aviation aircraft while maneuvering in a run-up area adjacent to a taxiway. The incident involved a Cessna and a tail-wheel equipped Piper.
Sequence of Events
The pilot of the Cessna reported being stationary in the run-up area, waiting to taxi onto the runway, when a loud noise was heard and the airplane moved. After shutting down the engine and exiting, the pilot observed that the left wing of the Piper had collided with the left side of the Cessna's rudder and vertical stabilizer.
The Piper pilot stated that he was taxiing to obtain fuel, with no intention of flight. While turning off the taxiway onto the run-up pad to run the engine before fueling, he saw the tail of the Cessna directly ahead. He applied right brake input and swiveled the aircraft in an attempt to avoid a direct propeller strike. Despite this evasive action, contact occurred. The Piper pilot noted that he could not explain why he did not see the Cessna in sufficient time to prevent the collision.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna was described as a single-engine airplane. The Piper was a tail-wheel equipped model. No specific aircraft registration numbers or further identification were provided in the source.
Damage Assessment
The collision resulted in contact between the Piper's left wing and the Cessna's left rudder and vertical stabilizer. The extent of structural damage was not detailed beyond the description of the impact.
Contributing Factors
No official analysis or determination of contributing factors was included in the source. The Piper pilot acknowledged uncertainty regarding his inability to see the Cessna in time.