The Cessna 182 pilot stated he did not turn sharply enough when he applied power to position the airplane in the run-up area at the airport in Denton, Texas, and the airplane’s right wing struck the vertical stabilizer of a Cessna 172 that was stopped in the run-up area.
The C182 pilot stated that his foot slipped and was not on the brake during the turn.
The C172 sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, and the C182 sustained minor damage to the right-wing tip and outboard leading edge.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from another airplane while taxing in the run-up area.
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This December 2022 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.
Accidents seem to happen when one or the other person is impatient and unwilling to allow the other the right of way. The consequences of impatience are often loss of life and or costly destruction of property. The loss of life is terminal not repairable. A few brief seconds of impatience driven by pride can put you behind bars or land you in a courtroom. A few years ago a female engineer employed at the space center was flagged down by an FHP Trooper due to some damage to the bridge. She took it upon herself to go around the trooper and cross the bridge. The consequences of her pride and impatience were some hefty fines a loss of employment and the pulling of her security clearances. Loosing one’s security clearance can permanently keep you from a job that requires a clearance
Perhaps someone’s distant vision and foot coordination should be checked.
Getting grounded for more proficiency training would also be in order.
Either way the insurance company is going to want to talk to someone about “slipping ” pedals.
Let,s not get “sloppy ” about critical areas around other aircraft. We are not supposed to be information.
With a 36 ft wingspan, the right wingtip is about 20 ft from the pilot and it’s difficult to judge the clearance from stuff. The shadows can help sometimes…