Primary finding
Probable cause
Aircraft 1 The pilot's excessive taxi speed while taxiing to the runway, and his failure to see the stopped airplane ahead of him in time to avoid a collision. --- Aircraft 2 The pilot of the other airplane's excessive taxi speed while taxiing to the runway, and his failure to see the stopped airplane ahead of him in time to avoid a collision.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Two airplanes of the same make and model and operated by the same air taxi operator were taxiing to the runway from the ramp area. Airplane "B" had stopped in the ramp area, when airplane "A" came from behind and struck airplane "B's" left wing with its right wing. Both airplanes were preparing to depart on Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flights. The director of operations for the operator indicated that there were no mechanical problems with either airplane and that the pilot of airplane "A" was taxiing too fast for the conditions and didn't see the other airplane in time to stop. Both airplanes received substantial damage.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 18, 2008, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207A airplane, N9935M, collided with another Cessna 207A, N7380U, while taxiing on the ramp at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14, CFR Part 135 flights by Flight Alaska, dba Yute Air, Anchorage, Alaska. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo commercial pilot of N9935M, or the commercial pilot and the sole passenger of N7380U, were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and company VFR flight plans were in effect. N9935M was en route to Eek, Alaska as an on-demand air taxi, and N7380U was en route to Quinhagak, Alaska, as scheduled commuter Flight 510. According to the operator's director of operations, and the written statement of the pilot of N9935M, both airplanes were in the vicinity of the company hangar, when the front of the right wing of N9935M collided with the trailing edge of the left wing of N7380U. N9935M was taxiing for takeoff, and N7380U was stopped on the ramp, prior to taxiing for takeoff. The pilot of N9935M stated that he was taxing too fast, and didn't see the other airplane in time to avoid hitting it. The director of operations said the pilot of N7380U, was giving the passenger a pretakeoff briefing, and just caught a glimpse of N9935M as it collided with his airplane's left wing trailing edge. N9935M's damage was primarily on the leading edge of the right wing, requiring replacement of a rib and a section of the leading edge; damage to N7380U was primarily the left wing flap, and the left aileron, which required replacement.