Summary
On 23 March 2006, a student pilot flying a Piper PA28-161 (registration 9V-BOE) was involved in a ground collision with a van at Seletar Airport, Singapore. The student was completing his first solo flight and had just landed. While taxiing to his assigned parking bay, he became disoriented and turned into a bay occupied by a Learjet. Attempting to navigate around the Learjet, the aircraft's left wing struck a parked van. Neither the student nor the van driver was injured.
History of the Flight
The student pilot, aged 17 with 18.2 total flying hours, first flew a pre-solo check sortie with his instructor. After landing on Runway 03, he taxied to Parking Bay A4, where the instructor debriefed him and then went to the control tower to monitor the solo flight. The student then took off for the solo flight, which was uneventful. During landing, the tower controller instructed him to exit the runway via Taxiway W11 because Taxiway W2 was occupied by a helicopter. The student was asked to expedite vacating due to an approaching aircraft.
After leaving the runway at Taxiway W1, the student completed after-landing checks and was cleared to taxi to Bay A4. While proceeding south on the main taxiway, he became disoriented and mistook the line leading to Bay C14 for the line to Taxiway W2. He turned left into Bay C14 and realized his mistake upon seeing a parked Learjet.
Collision
The student decided to taxi around the Learjet to return to the main taxiway. He assessed that his aircraft could pass safely between the Learjet on his right and an airport van on his front left, which was parked waiting to cross the runway. He did not inform the ground controller or stop. Focusing only on the Learjet, he did not look left and heard a loud bang as the left wing tip struck the rear of the van. The van driver saw the aircraft in his mirror and attempted to move but had insufficient time. The collision occurred at approximately 1023 hours.
Aftermath
The aircraft's left wing tip, navigation lights, and leading edge were damaged. The van's rear screen shattered, and the right side was dented. The student left the engine running until his instructor arrived and helped shut it down. The Watch Manager activated the Airport Emergency Service at 1026 hrs, and the first vehicle arrived at 1028 hrs.
Personnel Information
- Student pilot: Male, 17 years old, Student Pilot's Licence, 18.2 total flying hours (all on type).
- Instructor: Male, 51 years old, Commercial Pilot's Licence, 10,628.3 total hours (461.8 on type).
The student pilot underwent a medical examination immediately after the incident, with no abnormalities found.
Aircraft and Van Damage
The aircraft was serviceable and within weight and balance limits. The port wing tip and navigation lights were damaged, with skin damage to the leading edge; no structural damage occurred. The van sustained a shattered rear screen, right side passenger window frame damage, and right front panel damage.
Aerodrome and Weather
Seletar Airport has a single 1592 x 46 m runway. At the time, the weather was clear with good visibility, wind 030 degrees at 5 knots, QNH 1008 mb, runway surface wet. Taxiway markings and signs met ICAO standards and were not a factor.
Conclusion
The investigation identified significant factors including the student pilot's disorientation during taxiing, his failure to stop and request assistance, and his preoccupation with avoiding the Learjet, which led to his failure to see the van.