Cessna 170 N2552V and Aerotek Inc PITTS S-2B N5314Y accident near Cleveland, Georgia

Probable cause

The taxiing pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his airplane's collision with a stopped airplane.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the Pitts had landed his tailwheel-equipped airplane to the south on the grass runway and was taxiing toward the end of the runway, planning to take off again to the north. (Landing to the south and taking off to the north was common practice at the accident airport because of surrounding terrain.) However, while the pilot was taxiing for takeoff, the Pitts’ propeller struck the left wing of another airplane that was stopped at the end of the runway to conduct before-takeoff checks. The Pitts pilot stated that he did not see the other airplane before the collision. He also did not note any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded his airplane’s normal operation.

The pilot of the Pitts had landed his tailwheel-equipped airplane to the south on the grass runway and was taxiing toward the end of the runway, planning to take off again to the north. (Landing to the south and taking off to the north was common practice at the accident airport because of surrounding terrain.) However, while the pilot was taxiing, the Pitts’ propeller struck the left wing of another airplane that was stopped at the end of the runway to conduct before-takeoff checks. The Pitts pilot stated that he did not see the other airplane before the collision. He also did not note any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded his airplane’s normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA13LA299 for the full record.