Cessna 172 N274MM and Cessna 208 N926FE accident near Honolulu, Hawaii

Probable cause

The pilot of the Cessna's failure to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the airplane ahead of it on the taxiway.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of a Cessna 208B airplane reported that, during taxi to the runway for departure, his airplane was positioned approximately 50 ft behind another airplane holding for departure. He added that, he set the condition lever at low idle, and the power lever was set all the way aft to idle. He said he then set the parking brake before diverting his attention to inside of the airplane. Shortly after, he was startled by a noise and vibration, looked up, and realized his airplane had taxied into the airplane in front of him.

A postaccident examination of the Cessna 208B by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the brake system that would have precluded normal operation.

Given the absence of any mechanical issues with the Cessna 208B's brake system, it is likely the pilot inadvertently failed to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, and the airplane subsequently collided with the airplane ahead.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC20LA003 for the full record.