What happened
On March 30, 2018, at approximately 14:35 local time, a Piper PA-46-350T, registration LV-BZP, was taxiing at Carrasco International Airport (SULS). The aircraft, operated by LimpioLux Argentina, was carrying one pilot and five passengers on a flight plan from SULS to SUPU.
While taxiing toward Taxiway A from transient position No. 3, the aircraft moved along the designated taxiway centerline. As the aircraft approached transient position No. 1, the pilot began verifying selected frequencies on the NAV/COM equipment. During this process, the pilot's attention was diverted from the aircraft's movement. Consequently, the aircraft drifted to the right of the taxiway centerline and struck the rear of an unoccupied, parked vehicle with its right wing.
The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft's right wing and substantial damage to the vehicle's bodywork and rear window. There were no injuries to the pilot or passengers. No fire occurred, and the airport's emergency plan was activated following the impact.
The investigation
The CIAIA investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the deviation from the taxiway centerline. The investigation established that the aircraft was in motion while the pilot was performing cockpit procedures, specifically checking radio frequencies. The investigation also noted that while the event was initially classified as a standard incident, the extent of the required repairs led to its reclassification as a serious incident.
Findings
- The aircraft unexpectedly deviated from its taxiing path and struck a properly parked vehicle.
- The primary cause was a lack of attention to aircraft control during the taxi phase due to the pilot performing operational checks while the aircraft was in motion.