What happened
On 25 October 2003, a Cessna 195, registration N999MH, was involved in a ground collision at Compton Abbas Airfield in Wiltshire. The flight was being conducted as a private operation. Following a standard engine start, the pilot began taxiing the tailwheel aircraft across the grass area toward the holding point for Runway 26. The weather conditions at the time were favorable, characterized by good visibility and a light north-westerly surface wind.
During the taxiing maneuver, the pilot of N999MH failed to observe another aircraft that was stationary and holding for the runway. As a result, the right wing of the Cessna 195 made contact with the propeller of the stationary aircraft, a G-AYEV. The impact caused minor damage to the right wing of N999MH and resulted in shock loading to the engine of G-AYEV.
The investigation
The investigation was prompted by an aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events on the airfield and the visibility conditions at the time of the incident. The inquiry established that while the weather was clear, the pilot of the moving aircraft did not identify the stationary aircraft in their path during the taxiing process.