Leesburg, FL, USA
N11938
Cessna 150L
N331DM
Pitts S-2B
The pilot of N11938, a Cessna 150L, stated that she saw the Pitts S2B, N331DM, as it turned onto the taxiway and proceeded in her direction. She said she began maneuvering the Cessna to the right to avoid the Pitts, and she did not observe the Pitts being maneuvered to avoid her airplane. She said the Pitts turned directly into her path, so she maneuvered her airplane further to the right to avoid an head on collision with the Pitts. She said she then maneuvered the Cessna to the left, and stopped short of the grass in order not to strike a taxiway light with her airplane's propeller, and at that time the left wing of the Pitts collided with the left wing of her airplane. The pilot of the Pitts said that he had been observing the Cessna, and it had been stationary prior to him proceeding onto the taxiway. He added that he could see the Cessna until he was directly in front of it and made the turn. As he taxied the Pitts, he had been watching for traffic, but was unable to see directly in front, due to the configuration of his aircraft, and it was apparently during that time that the Cessna was "off the nose" of his airplane, and out of sight, that the Cessna started moving forward. He said that he saw Cessna off to his left side for a second or two before the impact, and was able to stop, but both airplanes collided wing to wing. There were no indications that either pilot ever attempted to establish radio communications with the other.
On October 21, 2000, about 0945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N11938, registered to a private individual, and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, and a Pitts S-2B, N331DM, registered to a private individual, and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided during taxi operations at Leesburg Regional Airport, Leesburg, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for either flight. N11938 incurred substantial damage, and N331DM incurred minor damage. The student-rated solo pilot in N11938 and the commercial-rated pilot in N331DM received no injuries. N11938's flight had originated the same day, about 0935, and N331DM's flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a witness, he had viewed both aircraft, but had walked through the ramp gate that led to the fixed base operator's facility, and his view was obscured by a parked aircraft momentarily. He further stated that when both aircraft returned to view, N331DM had already entered the diagonal taxiway, and was turning left to rejoin the parallel taxiway at the intersection. He said that N11938 had already entered the intersection, and was maneuvering to the right side of the intersection when the collision occurred. He said that the collision occurred at a negligible forward speed with the right main tire of N11938 coming to rest on the right edge of the pavement, and N331DM on the taxiway centerline. The pilot of N11938 stated that she had entered the intersection of the diagonal taxiway, and the taxiway that crosses runway 3/21, as well as parallels runway 13/31, when she observed N331DM turning right, onto the diagonal taxiway. She said that she then began maneuvering to the right of the taxiway to avoid N331DM, but did not observe any attempt on the part of the pilot of N331DM to maneuver his aircraft to avoid hers, but instead, he proceeded to turn directly into her path to intercept the intersecting taxiway. She said she then maneuvered further to the right to avoid an head on collision, and then had to eventually maneuver to the left and stop short of the grass for fear of striking a taxiway light with her aircraft's propeller. She said that it was at that point that the left wing of N331DM collided with the left wing of her aircraft. The pilot of N331DM stated that he had stopped at a point that would give him good visibility of N11938 departing the taxiway, and noted that N11938 had stopped at the hold short line, and had remained stationary. He said after observing N11938 stationary for some time, he proceeded onto the taxiway. He said he had good visibility of N11938, until he was directly in front of N11938 and made his turn. He said that as he taxied, he had been watching for traffic, but was unable to see directly in front, due to the configuration of his aircraft, and it was apparently during the time that N11938 was off the nose, and out of his visibility, that the pilot of N11938 decided to start moving forward. He said that he saw N11938 off his left side for a second or two before impact, and was able to stop, but the pilot of N11938 continued, and both aircraft collided wing to wing.
The failure of the pilot of N331DM to maintain a proper visual lookout and ensure adequate clearance, which resulted in a collision with N11938. A factor in the accident was the failure of each pilot to communicate with the other.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
