What happened
On 14 October 2001, a De Havilland Chipmunk, registration ZU-BHL, was taxiing at Rand Aerodrome following a landing on Runway 35. The aircraft was proceeding across the southern portion of the main apron toward its hangar. During the taxi, the pilot encountered a Cessna 210 that was being towed into Hangar 34.
As the aircraft approached the hangar area, the pilot became preoccupied with a malfunctioning headset plug that was failing to maintain proper contact. While the pilot leaned forward in the cockpit to adjust the connection, the aircraft continued moving toward the path of the towed Cessna 2ually. Upon regaining visual contact, the pilot attempted an emergency stop by applying the brakes and shutting down the engine, but the collision was unavoidable. The propeller of the ZU-BHL struck the right-hand horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Cessna 210.
The investigation
SACAA AIID investigators examined the sequence of events on the main apron. The investigation established that the weather conditions at the time of the incident were fine. The crew of the De Havilland Chipmunk consisted of two individuals, and there were no injuries or fatalities resulting from the impact. The investigation focused on the movement of the two aircraft and the specific actions of the pilot during the taxi phase.
Findings
- The primary factor in the collision was pilot distraction caused by an attempt to fix a faulty headset connection.
- The pilot failed to maintain an adequate lookout while the aircraft was in motion.
- The pilot had incorrectly assumed the towed Cessna 210 would have cleared the taxi path by the time the Chipmunk reached the hangar area.