Cessna 152 N152TR and Cessna 152 N6132Q accident near Greenville, Texas

Probable cause

The passing pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the airplane that he was attempting to pass during taxi operations. Contributing to the accident was the passing pilot's distraction due to looking at his on-board navigation device while attempting to pass the other airplane.

NTSB analysis

According to a flight school representative, two solo pilot-rated students were performing pilot-in-command, skills-building training flights. The pilots were taxiing their airplanes to the runway when the pilot in the lead airplane pulled to the right side of the taxiway to allow the pilot in the other airplane to pass. The pilot of the passing airplane was looking at his onboard navigation device as he attempted to pass on the left side of the lead airplane, and his airplane's right wing struck the lead airplane's left wing. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, exited them, and assessed the damage and determined that the damage was minimal, so they departed for the next leg of their training flight. After that flight, flight school maintenance personnel examined the airplanes and found that the lead airplane's left wing aileron and the passing airplane's three right-wing ribs had sustained substantial damage. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

According to a flight school representative, two solo, pilot-rated students were performing pilot-in-command, skills-building training flights. The pilots were taxiing their airplanes to the runway when the pilot in the lead airplane pulled to the right side of the taxiway to allow the pilot in the other airplane to pass. The pilot of the passing airplane was looking at his onboard navigation device as he attempted to pass on the left side of the lead airplane, and his airplane's right wing struck the lead airplane's left wing. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, exited them, and assessed the damage and determined that the damage was minimal, so they departed for the next leg of their training flight. After that flight, flight school maintenance personnel examined the airplanes and found that the lead airplane's left wing aileron and the passing airplane's three right-wing ribs had sustained substantial damage. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA346 for the full record.