Incident Overview
On 12 September 2010, at approximately 1400 hours UTC, a ground collision occurred at Manchester Barton Aerodrome involving two aircraft: a Cessna 182S Skylane (registration G-EFAM) and a Cessna C-165 Airmaster (registration G-BTDE). Both aircraft were conducting private flights, with one pilot and two passengers on board the Skylane, and one pilot on board the Airmaster. Neither crew nor passengers sustained injuries.
Sequence of Events
The pilot of G-BTDE reported that a fly-in was taking place at the aerodrome, with approximately 39 visiting aircraft. Holding point A2 had been designated for relief parking. The pilot of G-BTDE, flying a tailwheel aircraft, stated that he was "weaving and taxiing cautiously" towards holding point A3, which required him to transit past holding point A2. He also reported being distracted by the GPS and failing to adequately clear his "blind" (right) side.
Meanwhile, the pilot of G-EFAM reported that he was conducting pre-flight checks, with the engine and electrical systems off, while parked adjacent to holding point A2. He stated that he was parked in accordance with instructions from the aerodrome flight information safety officer.
Collision and Damage
Both pilots reported that the right wing of G-BTDE collided with, and slid under, the right wing of G-EFAM. Following the collision, the pilot of G-BTDE shut down his aircraft. G-BTDE sustained no damage, while the right wing of G-EFAM suffered minor damage close to the wing tip. Subsequently, G-EFAM was cleared for flight by a licensed aircraft engineer.
Pilot Experience
The commander of G-EFAM, aged 45, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 402 hours total flying experience, of which 264 hours were on type. The commander of G-BTDE, aged 67, also held a Private Pilot's Licence and had 15,343 hours total flying experience, with 13 hours on type. In the last 90 days, the G-EFAM pilot had flown 25 hours, and the G-BTDE pilot had flown 19 hours.
Conclusion
The collision occurred during taxi operations on the ground, with the Airmaster's pilot citing distraction and failure to check the right side as factors.