The student pilot in the low-wing Piper PA28 reported that, after landing at the airport in Miami, Florida, she exited the runway onto a taxiway, which was occupied by a high-wing airplane that had landed before her.
She attempted to pass the high-wing airplane on the left, but her right wing hit the other airplane’s left wing lift strut. Her airplane then turned right about 180°, and the right wing struck the propeller and then the right wing of the high-wing airplane.
The flight instructor in the high-wing airplane reported that, after exiting the runway onto a taxiway, he “felt a small hit on the left side.” He saw a low-wing airplane make a right, 180° turn around the front of his airplane and hit its right wing.
Both airplanes sustained substantial damage to their right wings.
The student reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper decision to taxi past another airplane occupying the taxiway and her subsequent failure to maintain clearance from the airplane.
NTSB Identification: GAA19CA071A
This November 2018 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Very dumb move by the female person !!! Very, very lucky I guess, someone could have been killed ???
It sounds like the Cessna had crossed the ‘hold short’ line and was probably contacting the ground control to get taxi instructions, and this A2 taxi way, [ now “G’], is very short wrt to taxiway ‘A’. at KTMB .
The Piper could not clear the runway with the Cessna there. so, did she attempt to cross the hold short line and not worry about contacting ground ?
Pilots need to know that there is 16 feet of wing, which is about 20 feet to the right wingtip from the pilot seat.
So, it is difficult to judge how much clearance is needed to avoid hitting something .
A better action would have been to taxi to ‘A3’ to exit the runway…and what was the tower comms. to the aircraft ?
An unfortunate crash, doing extensive damage to both aircraft.
Sounds like she should have got on the radio and requested the Cessna to move. Probably the instructor doing a post flight review while blocking the ramp.
There is a student that should be made to pay for the wreck out of her own pocket but sadly her antic will drive up insurance rates for everyone else.
Considering the pilot was taxing (obviously in the ground), probably driving (that is something also doaby in the ground), I’ll say that driving was not an alternative to her😊
Why fly when you can drive 🙂