Cessna 180 N1044Y and Beech J35 N4398D accident near Spartanburg, South Carolina

Probable cause

The Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout.

NTSB analysis

A tailwheel-equipped Cessna 180 had landed and was taxiing back to the hangar area following a local aerial observation flight. A Beech J35 was parked near the edge of the ramp area, performing an extended run-up prior to departing on a brief local flight. As the Cessna approached the intersection of the taxiway and the ramp area where the Beech was parked, the Cessna struck the Beech. The propellers from both airplanes contacted the left wings of the opposite airplanes. The Cessna pilot shut down the engine, exited the airplane, and saw that his airplane's propeller had torn into the Beech's left wing fuel tank.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09TA466 for the full record.