Pilatus PC12

Mesa, AZ — November 28, 2018

Event Information

DateNovember 28, 2018
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberGAA19CA079
Event ID20181128X85901
LocationMesa, AZ
CountryUSA
Coordinates33.30778, -111.65556
AirportPHOENIX-MESA GATEWAY
Highest InjuryNONE

Aircraft

MakePilatus
ModelPC12
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageMINR

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
None7
Total Injured0

Event Location

Probable Cause

The other pilot's failure to follow the air traffic controller’s instructions and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate lookout to see and avoid the other airplane on the taxiway. 

Full Narrative

The pilot of the Pilatus reported that after he received his IFR clearance from the local air traffic controller, he taxied from the ramp to the taxiway. While turning onto the taxiway, he was further instructed by the controller to give way to an airplane on the same taxiway. He acknowledged the instruction, "stopped" the airplane, looked left and saw a Cessna, which already passed him, so he looked right, did not see any other airplanes on the taxiway and continued to taxi. Shortly after, he realized that the propellers struck something, so he immediately shut down the airplane, deplaned, and realized that he struck another Cessna he did not see.

The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that, while the student pilot was taxiing back to the ramp, they were instructed by the local air traffic controller to follow company traffic while passing another airplane, to their left, "holding" short of the same taxiway. He then looked left outside of his window and saw a spinning propeller moving closer towards the airplane. He immediately grabbed the controls and hammered the right pedal, but the propeller of the other airplane struck their airplane's left wing.

The Pilatus sustained damage to the propellers. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

A video provided by the airport authority showed that the Pilatus taxied left on to the taxiway from the ramp without stopping. It also showed that there was another airplane, further down the taxiway.
The pilot of the Pilatus reported that after he received his IFR clearance from the local air traffic controller, he taxied from the ramp to the taxiway. While turning onto the taxiway, he was further instructed by the controller to give way to an airplane on the same taxiway. He acknowledged the instruction, "stopped" the airplane, looked left and saw a Cessna, which already passed him, so he looked right, did not see any other airplanes on the taxiway and continued to taxi. Shortly after, he realized that the propellers struck something, so he immediately shut down the airplane, deplaned, and realized that he struck another Cessna he did not see.

The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that, while the student pilot was taxiing back to the ramp, they were instructed by the local air traffic controller to follow company traffic while passing another airplane, to their left, "holding" short of the same taxiway. He then looked left outside of his window and saw a spinning propeller moving closer towards the airplane. He immediately grabbed the controls and hammered the right pedal, but the propeller of the other airplane struck their airplane's left wing.

The Pilatus sustained damage to the propellers. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

A video provided by the airport authority showed that the Pilatus taxied left on to the taxiway from the ramp without stopping. It also showed that there was another airplane, further down the taxiway.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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