What happened
On April 16, 2016, at Katowice-Muchowiec Airport (EPKM), a student pilot was preparing for a solo flight. After receiving instructions and clearance from a supervising instructor to taxi via the simple route to concrete runway DS23, the student pilot began the maneuver. The planned flight route was intended to be EPKM-Ogrodzientec-EPRU-Ogrodzieniec-EPKM.
During the taxiing process, the student pilot deviated from the provided instructions by turning left. This maneuver resulted in the left wingtip of the student's aircraft, a Cessna 150, striking the rudder of another aircraft, SP-KIR, which was stationary near the refueling station. The student pilot brought the aircraft to an immediate stop following the contact.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of movements on the ground and the adherence to taxi instructions. A mechanic inspected both aircraft at the scene. The inspection of SP-GCC revealed a minor dent in the rudder skin, while SP-KIR sustained paint scratches on the wingtip. Both aircraft were determined to be airworthy following the incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the improper division of attention by the student pilot at the start of the taxi maneuver.
- The incident was further contributed to by the student pilot's failure to follow the specific taxi instructions provided by the instructor.