NTSB Factual Report

On July 30, 2002, about 1340 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N739PB, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N3527U, at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The Piper PA-31-350 was not damaged. The two airplanes collided as the Cessna 172 was taxiing for takeoff, and while the Piper PA-31-350 was taxiing to parking after landing. The Cessna 172's flight was being conducted as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The Piper PA-31-350's flight was being conducted as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic commuter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, operated as Flight 755, by Warbelow's Air Ventures, Inc., Fairbanks. The PA-31-350's flight originated at the Tanana Airport, Tanana, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the two passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 30, the pilot of the Cessna 172 reported that he was taxiing northbound on taxiway Delta, en route to runway 19L. He said that as he passed the intersection with taxiway Romeo, a Piper PA-31-350 that was turning left from Romeo onto taxiway Delta struck the aft portion of his airplane's left wing. He said that in an attempt to avoid the collision, he applied full right rudder, and heavy braking, but the right propeller of the converging PA-31 struck the left wing of his airplane. He added that after he noticed the taxiing PA-31-350, he just did not have enough time to react and avoid the collision. The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on July 31, the pilot of the PA-31-350 reported that after landing on runway 19R, she informed the Fairbanks ATCT ground controller the she would be parking at the Warbelow's ramp, located on the east side of the airport. She was instructed to proceed to parking at the east ramp, via taxiways Bravo, Echo, Romeo, and Delta. The PA-31-350 pilot stated that while taxiing slowly on taxiway Romeo, and while making a left turn onto taxiway Delta, she heard one of her passengers seated in the rear and on the right side of the airplane, yell: "To your right, to your right." Subsequently, the right propeller of the taxiing PA-31-350 collided with the Cessna 172's left wing and aileron. The PA-31-350 sustained no damage during the collision. According to the pilot's written statement that was included in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the operator, the pilot reported that her airplane was struck by the Cessna 172 as she was taxiing to parking. She reported that just after the collision, she stopped her airplane on the taxiway, and shutdown the engines. She wrote, in part: "The other airplane eventually came to a halt also, after striking my right propeller from behind with it's left wingtip."

Both pilot's commented that construction activity in the area complicated taxi operations. Both pilot's acknowledged that the area in which the collision took place was considered "uncontrolled" by FAA air traffic ground controllers.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate visual outlook while taxiing.