Incident Overview
On October 20, 2019, at 21:50 UTC, a ground collision occurred at General Pico Aerodrome in General Pico, La Pampa, involving two aircraft: a Pitts S-2B registered LV-RBW and a Cessna A-182-K registered LV-JBJ. The Pitts S-2B, operated by Mebia SA, had just completed an aerobatic display as part of an air festival and was taxiing after landing. The Cessna A-182-K, owned by Aeroclub General Pico, was stationary with its engine running, awaiting takeoff clearance for a recreational flight.
Sequence of Events
The Pitts S-2B had taken off at 21:20 UTC along with two other aircraft for a 30-minute aerobatic performance. After landing on runway 34, the formation vacated the runway via taxiway B. The leader of the formation taxied on the right half of the taxiway, while the pilot of LV-RBW taxied on the left side to avoid exhaust gases from a L-29 turbine aircraft. Due to the Pitts S-2B's design, forward visibility from the cockpit was extremely limited, requiring the pilot to zigzag to clear the area ahead. The pilot used the L-29 as a reference and assumed no obstacles were in front. After traveling approximately 20 meters past the holding line, LV-RBW struck the left wing of LV-JBJ, which was stopped directly ahead.
Communication and Radio Frequencies
The Cessna A-182-K was tuned to the General Pico tower frequency of 119.0 MHz. The Pitts S-2B, however, was using 134.8 MHz, the internal frequency used during the aerobatic display. As a result, the Pitts pilot could not hear warnings from the tower or from the Cessna pilot, who tried to alert him of the impending collision. The aerodrome's air traffic service was classified as "aeradio," providing only flight information and aerodrome control on a single frequency (119.0 MHz), with no separate taxi frequency.
Damage and Injuries
The collision caused damage to the left wings of both aircraft. The Pitts S-2B sustained light damage, while the Cessna A-182-K suffered substantial damage. None of the occupants were injured: the Pitts pilot was unharmed, and the Cessna's pilot and three passengers also reported no injuries.
Environmental Conditions
The accident occurred during daytime in good weather conditions.
Pre-Event Meeting
On the morning prior to the accident, a coordination meeting was held at the aerodrome. Attendees included the two pilots involved, event organizers, the aerodrome chief, the president of Aeroclub General Pico, other pilots, and support staff. The purpose was to establish operating procedures for the festival, with all parties agreeing on the guidelines and committing to safety.
Investigation Findings
The investigation highlighted that the Pitts pilot's limited forward visibility and reliance on the L-29 as a reference, combined with the mismatch in radio frequencies, prevented him from being aware of the stationary Cessna. The report also noted that the aerodrome's single frequency and lack of a dedicated taxi frequency contributed to the communication breakdown.