Incident Overview
On 9 January 2002, at 16:55 local time, a ground collision occurred between two training aircraft at Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome in Madrid, Spain. The aircraft involved were a Piper PA-28-161 Cadet (registration EC-HMH, built 1992) and a Cessna 152 (registration EC-EQO, built 1979). Both were conducting dual instruction flights under general aviation operations, each carrying an instructor and a student.
Sequence of Events
Both aircraft proceeded to the holding point for runway 10. The Cessna arrived first and positioned itself at the holding point. Shortly after, the Piper approached and stopped slightly behind and to the right of the Cessna. While waiting for takeoff clearance from the control tower, the Piper began to roll slowly forward. Its propeller contacted the rear portion of the Cessna's right wingtip, causing the wingtip to disintegrate as the propeller advanced. The pilot of the other aircraft quickly stopped the engine.
Casualties and Damage
Both crews were uninjured and were able to taxi the aircraft from the holding point with assistance from the fire service. The Piper sustained minor damage: scratches on the propeller blades and erosion on the leading edge. The Cessna suffered substantial damage to its right wing, with the outermost 60 centimeters of the wing, including the aileron area, destroyed.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the incident, meteorological conditions were reported as favorable, with no gusts or adverse wind conditions affecting operations.
Investigation Findings
The Piper's instructor stated that during the incident, he and the student were performing the before-takeoff checklist. The aircraft moved forward without their awareness until contact occurred. The delayed reaction in stopping the aircraft was attributed to their concentration on the checklist and the belief that the parking brake was correctly engaged.
The investigation concluded that the incident resulted from the inadvertent movement of an aircraft on the ground, likely due to a diversion of the pilot's attention during pre-takeoff checks, which led to a failure to monitor the aircraft's position relative to the surroundings.