On 12 Feb 2016, a CESSNA 150 M operated by CP Aviation Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Paula, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The tailwheel pilot's failure to see and avoid a stationary airplane performing a run-up, which resulted in a ground collision. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A tailwheel airplane struck a stationary Cessna 150 on a taxiway after the pilot failed to see it due to restricted visibility from the rear cockpit. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
Accident Details
A collision occurred on a taxiway between a tailwheel-equipped airplane and a stationary Cessna 150. The pilot of the tailwheel airplane reported that restricted visibility from the rear cockpit prevented him from seeing the Cessna, which had stopped on the taxiway. The propeller of the tailwheel airplane subsequently struck the vertical stabilizer of the Cessna.
Pilot Statements
The pilot of the tailwheel airplane stated that due to limited visibility from the rear cockpit, he failed to see the Cessna 150 that had stopped. The student pilot of the Cessna reported that he was preparing for the engine run-up and did not see the tailwheel airplane until after the collision.
Aircraft Damage
A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the Cessna 150.
Mechanical Condition
Both pilots reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.