Amateur-built STARDUSTER TOO SA300 N506WS and Cessna 172 N5396E accident near San Diego, California

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain separation from a stationary airplane during the taxi to the runway.

The other pilot's failure to maintain separation from a stationary airplane during the taxi to the runway.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the tandem-seat, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while taxiing to the runway and seated in the rear seat, he had "poor [forward] visibility" and that the airplane's propeller collided with the left wing of a stationary airplane on the taxiway. The pilot reported that he "broke and turned" as soon as he saw the stationary airplane, but "it was too late."

The pilot of the stationary airplane reported that he had stopped on the taxiway due to the run-up area ahead being fully occupied with multiple airplanes waiting to depart. He added that his "first awareness" of the tailwheel airplane was the sound of a "loud bang."

The stationary airplane's left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The tailwheel airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller.

The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA17CA411 for the full record.