NASA

Unfortunately, my slow thinking led to me making a turn at the same time that the aircraft in front of me was already almost finished with their turn. This resulted in a near head-on collision.

Since I had cut off the PA28, I figured the only possibility was that I had turned into my crosswind turn too early. However, I was confused about this as the PA28 had reported being on crosswind at least a full minute before I had even started my crosswind turn, and I could not figure out as to how they would then end up behind me.

I kept searching for the plane, climbing away from their flight path during this time, but even so, the traffic system indicated that we came within 100 vertical feet of each other.

When taxiing, one needs to be focused outside the airplane.

As I was walking around the wing to the cockpit, engine power increased more quickly than expected after start. I was unable to reach the cockpit to shut the engine down before the chocks gave way, followed by the tie-down stake pulling out of the ground.

We were wrong on all accounts and it is a good thing that we were able to establish ATC contact before taking off, which would have only complicated things for all.

The aircraft was so close and approaching so fast that I immediately disconnected the autopilot and put my airplane into a rapid descent to avoid.

It was a combination of fatigue and the dark conditions that made it difficult to notice the proper taxiway markings.

If I wasn’t supposed to make a left crosswind because of other traffic, why didn’t the Controller mention that to me prior to departure?