What happened
On 21 July 2025, at approximately 1000 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 152, with an instructor and student on board, taxied for circuit training operations on runway 35R at Moorabbin Airport, Victoria. While stationary at holding point A, a privately-operated Piper PA-32R-300 taxied into position behind the Cessna 152, awaiting departure for a flight to Broken Hill, New South Wales. After a brief pause, the PA-32R began rolling forward until the propeller contacted the 152’s tail structure. The collision resulted in minor damage to the PA-32R’s propeller and substantial damage to the 152’s tailplane structures, including the rudder, vertical stabiliser and right elevator (Figure 1). With the force from the propeller contact, debris was also spread along the taxiway. Neither of the 152 crew nor the PA-32R pilot sustained any injuries.
The PA-32R pilot reported that immediately prior to the collision, they had been conducting preparatory navigation-related tasks inside the cockpit and had not held sufficient pressure on the aircraft brakes to prevent the aircraft from moving. With their attention inside the cockpit, they had not realised the aircraft had begun to slowly move forward until the collision occurred.
Figure 1: Post‑incident damage to the Cessna 152
Source: Aerodrome operator
Safety message
This incident highlights the importance of pilots maintaining vigilance and situational awareness throughout all phases of flight – including ground operations and taxiing. While manoeuvring in proximity to other aircraft or obstacles, attention must remain outside the aircraft, with ancillary activities such as navigational preparation limited to periods where inadvertent aircraft movement would not create a collision risk.
About this report
Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.