What happened
On 25 September 2011, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-APAO, was involved in a ground collision at Duxford Aerodrome, Cambridgeshire. The aircraft was being operated as part of a training flight. While taxiing, the pilot attempted to execute a left-hand turn of approximately 90 degrees. However, the aircraft's turning radius proved larger than anticipated, bringing it into close proximity to another Tiger Moth parked to the left of the taxiway.
Due to the lack of braking capability on the aircraft, the pilot was unable to halt the movement or steer away from the stationary aircraft. In an attempt to avoid the collision, the pilot initiated a right-hand turn of 270 degrees. This maneuver was unsuccessful, and the aircraft collided with the parked Tiger Moth. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board, though the collision resulted in damage to the mainplane and front spar of G-APCO.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the taxiing sequence and the mechanical limitations of the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft was taxiing downwind at the time of the incident. The pilot's report indicated that the tendency of the tail-wheeled aircraft to turn into the wind, which was blowing from the right, significantly influenced the maneuverability of the aircraft during the turn.