What happened
On Monday, January 28, 2002, at 13:00, a SOCATA TB10, registered F-GJXO, was performing a solo cross-country flight for training purposes. Following landing at Tarbes Lourdes Pyrénées airport, the trainee pilot began taxiing toward parking position W8. During this maneuver, the right wingtip of the SOCATA TB10 collided with a parked Cessna 150 located at position W9. The collision resulted in damage to the wingtip of the TB10 and damage to the fuselage and empennage of the Cessna 150.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the taxi path and the pilot's interpretation of ground markings. The pilot, a 23-year-old trainee with 40 total flight hours, stated that he believed following the yellow taxiway centerline would ensure safe clearance from other aircraft. The investigation established that the Cessna 150 was positioned with its nose wheel resting on a yellow directional arrow. This specific marking was not a designated parking spot, but rather a directional indicator pointing toward a nearby parking area.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was insufficient environmental monitoring by the pilot during taxi.
- The pilot's reliance on the taxiway centerline led to an error in judgment, as he believed the path was clear of obstacles.
- The positioning of the parked aircraft on a directional marking rather than a designated parking spot contributed to the incident.