What happened
On May 10, 2002, at approximately 15:30 local time, a PIPER PA-38-112, registration EC-ERN, was involved in a ground collision at La Axarquía Aerodrome in Málaga. The aircraft, operated for solo flight instruction, had completed its pre-flight inspection and started the engine. As the student pilot began taxiing, they encountered a vehicle parked on the taxiway that obstructed the path of the aircraft.
In an attempt to avoid the obstacle, the pilot steered the aircraft to the right. However, the maneuver was insufficient to clear the obstruction, resulting in the left wingtip striking the vehicle. This initial impact caused the aircraft to pivot around the left wing, leading to a secondary impact where the propeller struck the vehicle's hood. The collision resulted in minor damage to the aircraft, including a broken wing trailing edge, dents on the left wing leading edge, and deformed propeller blades, along with potential internal engine damage. The vehicle sustained damage to its hood, bumper, and rear passenger area. The pilot was uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making and the presence of the obstacle on the taxiway. It was established that the pilot had two viable options upon encountering the vehicle: stop the aircraft and locate the driver to move the vehicle, or attempt to pass the obstacle by maximizing clearance. The pilot chose to attempt the latter but failed to take necessary precautions, such as reducing taxi speed or verifying that the left wing would clear the vehicle.
Furthermore, the investigation determined that the pilot failed to stop the aircraft immediately following the first impact, which allowed the momentum to carry the aircraft into the second impact involving the propeller.