What happened
On 18 February 2004, at approximately 14:40 UTC, two light aircraft were involved in a ground collision at Shoreham Airfield, West Sussex. The first aircraft, a Cessna 150M with registration G-BPAX, was performing a private flight and was taxiing toward Hold B1 for Runway 03. During this taxi, the aircraft was following the taxiway centerline under fine weather conditions with a 12-knot wind.
At the same time, a Cessna 152, registration G-OBEN, was positioned in the engine run-up area near Hold B1. This aircraft was stationary with the parking brake engaged while the pilot conducted pre-takeoff checks. To prevent propeller wash from impacting the taxiway, the pilot of G-OBEN had intentionally oriented the aircraft out of the wind, pointing the nose toward the taxiway.
As G-BPAX moved past the stationary Cessna 152, the left wingtip of the taxiing aircraft struck the rotating propeller of the stationary aircraft. The impact resulted in damage to the left wing of G-BPAX and damage to the propeller of G-OBEN. There were no injuries to the crew of either aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators reviewed accident report forms submitted by both pilots. The investigation established that the pilot of G-BPAX had completed all necessary pre-takeoff checks prior to the incident. The pilot of the taxiing aircraft acknowledged that the collision occurred because he misjudged the available clearance between his wingtip and the stationary aircraft. While the pilot noted his perception that the stationary aircraft was positioned poorly within the run-up area, the physical evidence confirmed the contact was caused by the wingtip striking the propeller.