Synopsis
On 20 August 2015, at 10:05 UTC, a Cessna 172M (registration Netherlands, MSN 17265655) was involved in a collision with a parked van on a taxi track at Brasschaat airfield (EBBT). The flight was a cross-country general aviation flight from the Netherlands. The aircraft had one pilot and one passenger on board; no injuries were reported.
History of the Flight
The pilot intended to land at Brasschaat. He phoned the airfield clubhouse twice but received no answer, leaving a message. After takeoff from EHHV, upon arrival at Brasschaat, he observed glider activity. Landing on runway 16, he vacated left and followed the taxiway, making two right turns. While on a taxiway perpendicular to the runway, his attention was drawn to a winch and another vehicle with a rotating warning light on the runway extension. He did not notice a van parked about 1 meter from the left edge of the taxiway. The left wing tip struck the van, swiveling the aircraft left, and the propeller hit the right side of the van.
Damage
The aircraft sustained impact damage to the left wing tip and leading edge, with subsequent deformation to the rear spar. The propeller was also damaged. The van's right side was damaged, including the right door and rear view mirror.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The Cessna 172M is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing, fixed-landing gear aircraft. The pilot, a 58-year-old male, held a Dutch PPL and a Class 2 medical certificate (valid until October 2010). This was his first landing at Brasschaat.
Analysis
The airfield required prior permission (PPR), and the pilot could not contact management because the motorized section was closed. The glider section was active. The pilot intended to park near the clubhouse but passed the empty parking area without stopping, continuing into a glider-dedicated zone where vehicles and gliders were positioned. His attention was distracted by winch activity 25 meters to the right, and he missed the van on the left near the taxiway edge.
The BCAA circular GDF 04 notes that no fixed installations should be within 15 m of taxiway centerline; the report suggests this practice should also apply to mobile obstacles.
Conclusions
The investigation determined the accident was caused by the pilot's distraction, resulting in failure to notice a vehicle in the path. Contributing factors included: landing at a PPR airfield without effective contact with management, failure to locate the parking area, the glider section's habit of leaving obstacles on the taxiway, and lack of signalization indicating the taxiway portion was off-limits to aircraft.
Recommendations
Two recommendations were issued: BE-2016-0001 calls for improved signalization to prevent uncontrolled access into the glider zone, and BE-2016-0002 calls for instructions to ensure the taxiway remains clear of obstacles.