Aviat Aircraft Inc S-2 N57BC and Cessna 150 N704SL accident near Santa Paula, California

Probable cause

The tailwheel pilot's failure to see and avoid a stationary airplane performing a run-up, which resulted in a ground collision.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, "Due to the restricted visibility from the rear cockpit," he "failed to the see the C-150 that stopped on the taxiway." Subsequently, the propeller of the tailwheel airplane impacted the vertical stabilizer of a stationary Cessna airplane. The student pilot of the Cessna airplane reported that he was preparing for the engine run-up and never saw the tailwheel airplane until after the collision.

A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the Cessna airplane.

The pilot of the tailwheel airplane and the student pilot of the Cessna airplane reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA127 for the full record.