Cessna 172 N20521 and Cessna 150 N704VM accident near Hollywood, Florida

Probable cause

The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the stopped airplane while attempting to taxi around it.

The other pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the stopped airplane while attempting to taxi around it.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot reported that, after landing, she and the flight instructor requested to taxi back to the runway for traffic pattern practice. They were instructed to taxi to the runway at a taxiway intersection. They complied and lined up behind another aircraft holding short of the runway. She added that, while stopped and waiting for a takeoff clearance, she felt the airplane shake. She turned around and saw that another airplane had struck their airplane's vertical stabilizer and rudder.

The solo student pilot in the other airplane reported that, after landing, during taxi from the runway to parking, he saw an airplane holding short of the runway at a taxiway intersection. He thought there was enough clearance to taxi around the airplane, but his airplane's left wing struck the stopped airplane.

The stopped airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder.

The student pilot of the stopped airplane and the flight school manager for the taxiing airplane reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with either of the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA190 for the full record.