Background
On 16 February 2018 at 0940 UTC, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III, registration G-WARY, was involved in a ground collision with another Piper PA-28, G-WARZ, at Shoreham Airport, West Sussex. The aircraft, manufactured in 1997, was on a private flight with only the pilot on board. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 560 hours of flying experience, of which 475 were on type.
Sequence of Events
G-WARY had been parked to the right of G-WARZ. The pilot, seated in the right seat, intended to taxi to the fuel pumps in preparation for a planned cross‑country flight. As the aircraft moved forward, the pilot applied left brake and a small amount of power, intending to perform a 90° left turn. However, after turning through approximately 90°, the aircraft continued turning left instead of straightening. Before the pilot could close the throttle and apply brakes, G-WARY's left wing caught and drove under the left wing of G-WARZ, causing G-WARY to turn through 180°. The aircraft then continued forward, and the turning propeller penetrated the rear fuselage of G-WARZ, bringing both to a stop with the aircraft interlocked.
Damage and Injuries
G-WARY sustained damage to its wing tip and lower skin, and the engine experienced shock-load. G-WARZ suffered wing tip damage and major disruption to its rear fuselage. The pilot was uninjured.
Observations
The pilot initially believed he may have inadvertently applied more left brake than required or intended. A subsequent flight with an instructor revealed that the pilot's foot positioning on the pedals, with heels resting on the cockpit floor, was not ideal for positive and effective brake control. The pilot considered this, along with his unfamiliarity with operating the aircraft from the right seat (where the throttle is controlled with the left hand rather than the right, as is usual for the left seat), to be significant factors.
AAIB Comment
The AAIB noted that in this type of aircraft, the pilot in command typically occupies the left seat and operates the throttle with the right hand. The pilot's 475 hours as pilot in command on type were accrued from the left seat. His belief that he applied more left brake than required could also indicate insufficient right braking, leading to an imbalance. This was probably due to a combination of his seating position and foot placement on the rudder pedals, affecting his fluency with throttle and brakes. These aspects were considered significant causal factors during the rapid onset of the collision.