Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-28-161 near Melbourne, FL — 2012-05-23

Final reportERA12LA355
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Date
2012-05-23
Location
Melbourne, FL, USA
Airport
MLB
Aircraft
PIPER PA-28-161
Registration
N47749
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to set the parking brake and to maintain a proper visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision with another airplane. --- The failure of the pilot of another airplane to set the parking brake and to maintain a proper visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of N602FT reported that, while holding short of the runway waiting for departure, he noticed another airplane stop behind his airplane. A few seconds later, the airplane was struck from behind by N47749. N602FT's position, landing, and strobe lights were illuminated when the accident occurred. The pilot of N47749 reported that he was number three for departure behind N602FT. While the pilot was looking at the tachometer, the airplane slowly moved forward, struck N602FT, and severed the outer 2 feet of the left outboard portion of N602FT's horizontal stabilator. The pilot realized after the collision that he had not set the parking brake. He thought that his feet were on the brake pedals but that he did not put "much pressure" on them before the crash. Postaccident examination of N47749's brake system did not reveal evidence of any preimpact failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. When actuated, both the toe brakes and the parking brake were functional.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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