What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2019-05-17 involved a Boeing 738, registration OK-TVW, at LKPR, CZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The collision was caused by the crew of the taxiing aircraft failing to maintain adequate clearance from a stationary aircraft, compounded by poor crew resource management and an incorrect distance estimation by the second pilot.

Two Boeing 737s Collide on Taxiway at Prague Airport

A wingtip collision occurred between two Boeing 737 aircraft during taxi operations at Prague/Ruzyně Airport, caused by a failure to maintain adequate separation.

What happened

On May 17, 2019, at approximately 10:38 UTC, a collision occurred between two Boeing 737 aircraft at Prague/Ruzyně Airport (LKPR) at the intersection of taxiways E and F. The first aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 with registration OK-TVW, was taxiing toward runway 06. The second aircraft, a Boeing 737-8CX with registration N277EA, was holding at the intersection of taxiway E.

The crew of OK-TVW was attempting to minimize the risk of missing their assigned takeoff slot (CTOT) by requesting to taxi via taxiway F to the runway 06 holding point. As the aircraft proceeded, the crew observed another aircraft at the CAT I holding position begin its takeoff roll. This movement led the second pilot of OK-TVW to incorrectly assume that the stationary N277EA would also begin moving forward, creating sufficient space to pass.

While maneuvering, the right winglet of OK-TVW struck the stabilizer of N277EA. The impact caused mechanical damage to the stabilizer edge of N277EA and the leading edge of the winglet on OK-TVW. Both aircraft were rendered unable to continue flight without repairs.

The investigation

The ÚZPLN investigation examined the taxi trajectories, cockpit voice recordings, and airport surface movement data. The investigation focused on the crew's situational awareness, the communication between the pilots, and the positioning of the aircraft at the intersection. The investigation also reviewed the airport's taxiway markings and the procedures used by the flight crews during the movement.

Findings

The primary cause of the incident was the failure of the moving aircraft to maintain sufficient separation from the stationary aircraft.
A contributing factor was the failure of effective Crew Resource Management (CRM) within the OK-TVW crew.
The second pilot of OK-TV 737-800 misjudged the distance between the wingtip and the stationary aircraft's tail section.
The second pilot provided incorrect verbal confirmation (using the term "Good" instead of a standard clearance phrase) to the captain, which led to the collision.
The crew of OK-TVW was under pressure to avoid missing their takeoff slot, which influenced their decision to proceed through the intersection.
The second pilot incorrectly anticipated that the stationary aircraft would move forward following the departure of a preceding aircraft.