TRAVERSE CITY, MI, USA
N9352U
Cessna 150M
N2406C
Cessna 180
The pilot of the Cessna 150M, N9352U, was sitting at the end of the runway when 'the other aircraft (a tail dragger) ran into the (left) wing with its propeller.' The pilot of the Cessna 180, N2406C, stated that he was taxing west from his hangar onto the taxiway which lead to the north end of runway 18 when he called the tower for takeoff instructions. He stated he was looking to the left and thinking about the takeoff while he was talking. The next thing he recalled was a loud metallic crunch and 'I had hit another airplane on the taxiway.'
On August 17, 1996, at 0954 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cessna 150M, N9352U, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when while standing at the end of the runway preparing for takeoff, it was struck by a taxiing Cessna 180, N2406C. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both airplanes were being used for personal flights conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Neither pilot had filed a flight plan. The Cessna 150M, N9352U, sustained substantial damage and Cessna 180, N2406C, sustained minor damage. Neither pilot reported any injuries. According to the pilot of the Cessna 150M's written statement, he was sitting at the end of runway 18 at Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City, Michigan, performing his pre-takeoff engine run-up when "the other aircraft (a tail dragger) ran into the (left) wing with its propeller." According to the written statement of the pilot of the Cessna 180, "I was taxiing out from my hangar in the north T-hangars at Cherry Capital Airport onto the taxiway which leads to the north end of runway 18. I continued taxiing to the west and called the tower for takeoff instructions. At this time, I suppose I was looking to the left and thinking about the takeoff on runway 18 while I was talking. The next thing I knew was a loud metallic crunch. I had hit another airplane on the taxiway." Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the two airplanes at the Cherry Capital Airport. The outboard two feet of the left wing of the Cessna 150M, including the wingtip was separated. The next six feet of wing skin and the spar was crinkled and bent back. Two propeller strikes were observed in the underside of the left wing skin approximately six inches apart. The left aileron was bent upward. The Cessna 180 sustained minor damage to both propeller blades. No other anomalies were found with either airplane.
the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 180, N2406C, to maintaining proper spacing from the Cessna 150M, N9352U. A factor relating to this accident was the Cessna 180 pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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