Cessna 172S N5258Y and Cessna 172N N734WD accident near Johnson County Exec Airport, Kansas

Probable cause

The failure of the private pilot to see and avoid the student pilot's airplane, and the failure of the student pilot to avoid the approaching airplane. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the student pilot to obtain taxi clearance.

Failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172S to ensure the taxiway was clear prior to initiating the turn. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172N to obtain taxi clearance prior to entering the movement area.

NTSB analysis

Two airplanes were taxiing to the run up area of the airfield. A Cessna 172N, piloted by a student pilot, had departed a terminal ramp without obtaining proper clearance and was taxiing down the parallel taxiway. A Cessna 172S, piloted by a private pilot, had been cleared to taxi and crossed the active runway. The private pilot had his attention diverted to the run up area to his left, did not look right as he approached the parallel taxiway, and did not see the 172N. The student pilot saw the 172S as she taxied, but thought the other plane would stop and did not take any action to avoid the other airplane. The 172S collided with the 172N resulting in substantial damage to the 172N. The tower controller was monitoring a different area of the airfield and did not see the converging airplanes.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09LA182 for the full record.