Incident
On Monday, 12 March 2007, at 10:05 local time, a Diamond Star DA-40 (registration EC-INE) operated by Fundación Rego and a Piper PA-18 (registration EC-JEC) operated by Aircat collided on the taxiway at Reus Airport (Tarragona). The DA-40, occupied by an instructor and a student, had completed a local instructional flight of one hour and ten minutes. After landing, it vacated the runway via exit C and was instructed to taxi to the apron, yielding to a Boeing 737 proceeding to runway 25. While joining the taxiway, it struck the left wingtip of the PA-18 with its propeller. The PA-18 was taxiing behind the Boeing 737 from the aeroclub parking area toward the holding point for runway 25. The DA-40 veered right, forming a 45-degree angle with the taxiway axis, but could not avoid the collision. The PA-18 did not have time to react.
Damage and Injuries
The DA-40 sustained minor damage to one propeller blade. The PA-18 sustained damage to the left wingtip. None of the occupants of either aircraft were injured, and all were able to leave the aircraft by their own means.
Communications
The DA-40 (call sign ROG1PE) communicated with the tower in English. It contacted the tower at 09:57 local time, reporting on base left for runway 25. The tower authorized landing and provided wind conditions. After landing, at 09:59, the DA-40 reported vacating the runway. At 10:00, the tower instructed it to give way to a Boeing 737 proceeding to runway 25 and then taxi to the apron. The PA-18 communicated in Spanish throughout. At 09:58, it requested taxi instructions from the tower. The tower provided wind and QNH, instructed it to proceed to the holding point for runway 25, and assigned SSR code 7046. The pilot acknowledged. The tower asked to report before reaching the apron. At 10:04, the PA-18 reported an accident, stating it had collided with another aircraft on the taxiway that it did not see. The PA-18 reported damage to a wing. The DA-40 reported a broken propeller and that it would need to be towed. At 10:09, the DA-40 pilot, speaking via the car's radio, stated that he had seen the other aircraft and attempted to avoid it but only partially succeeded. The tower attributed the collision to the PA-18's tailwheel configuration limiting visibility.
Analysis
According to the report, no aerodrome ground movement chart for Reus Airport was published in the AIP. Taxiing opposite directions on the same taxiway was common practice at this airport. Both aircraft had the opportunity to hear each other's communications with the tower. However, neither aircraft was warned by ATC about the presence of the other. The report notes that while regulations provide for head-on encounters on taxiways, other factors prevented the application of those measures in this case.