Taxiing collision involving a Cessna 172S, VH-EOT and a Cessna 172S, VH-EOP, at Moorabbin Airport, Victoria, on 29 January 2015

What happened

On 29 January 2015, the student pilot of a Cessna 172S aircraft, registered VH-EOP, taxied for a solo training flight at Moorabbin Airport, Victoria. The student was cleared by air traffic control (ATC) to taxi via taxiway ‘A’ (Figure 1) to the holding point on taxiway ‘G’ for a departure from runway 13 Left (13L).

Figure 1: Extract of Moorabbin Airport En Route Supplement Australia entry

Source: Airservices Australia

As EOP passed the ‘A2’ taxiway, the right wingtip struck the rudder of another Cessna 172S aircraft, registered VH-EOT, which was stationary at the holding point for runway 13 Right (13R) on the ‘A2’ taxiway, and less than half a metre behind the marked holding line (Figure 2). The student pilot of EOP was unaware of the collision and continued to taxi to the holding point for runway 13L. A flight instructor on board EOT advised ATC of the collision and the controller directed the pilot of EOP to taxi back to the run-up bay. He was then advised of the collision and the instructor of EOT inspected both aircraft for damage. EOP was undamaged and EOT sustained minor damage to the rudder.

Pilot comments

The student pilot of EOP reported that he taxied on the yellow marked taxi line and assumed that this would provide adequate clearance from the stationary aircraft.

He subsequently had a taxi lesson focused on maintaining adequate clearance from other aircraft and obstacles, which he believed would be valuable training for all student pilots.

Figure 2: Moorabbin Airport, EOP taxi route and location of EOT

Source: Google earth

Safety action

Whether or not the ATSB identifies safety issues in the course of an investigation, relevant organisations may proactively initiate safety action in order to reduce their safety risk. The ATSB has been advised of the following proactive safety action in response to this occurrence.

Moorabbin Airport operator

As a result of this occurrence, the airport operator is taking the following safety actions:

Taxi line repaint

A work order has been raised to extend the left turn taxiway line to join the northern apron right side taxi line (Figure 3). This will increase the distance between an aircraft taxiing via taxiways ‘A’ and ‘G’ and an aircraft holding at the ‘A2’ holding point.

Figure 3: Taxiway line to be extended

Source: Google earth

Safety message

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining a good lookout when taxiing. Practice in taxiing an aircraft assists pilots to develop an awareness of where the extremities of the aircraft structure are going to track during ground manoeuvring.

Aviation Short Investigations Bulletin - Issue 40