What happened
On August 15, 2021, at approximately 19:15 UTC, a Piper PA 18 A 150, registration LV-GDU, was taxiing at the Bragado Aerodrome in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The pilot was proceeding toward the departure end of runway 02 for a general aviation flight to 25 de Mayo. During the taxi maneuver, the propeller of the LV-GDU struck the right wing of a stationary Cessna 152 A, registration LV-APM, which was parked in a designated parking area.
The collision resulted in significant damage to the right wing and propeller of the Piper aircraft. No injuries were reported for the occupants of either aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the taxi path, the airfield infrastructure, and witness footage of the event. Investigators reviewed video recorded by a bystander, which showed that the pilot of the LV-GDU did not perform any evasive maneuvers prior to the impact with the parked LV-APM.
An inspection of the airfield revealed that the distance between the taxiway marker for runway 20 and the designated parking line was 28 meters. The investigation also evaluated the airfield's compliance with international standards regarding taxiway design and markings.
Findings
- The pilot of the LV-GDU failed to observe the stationary LV-APM while taxiing.
- There was a lack of horizontal markings on the taxiways and movement areas, which led to aircraft maneuvering through unguided paths.
- The designated parking line was positioned in a way that encroached upon the active movement area, creating interference with the entry and exit of runways 20 and 02.
- The aerodrome lacked established taxiway markings and specific procedures for movement between the northern hangars and the active runways.